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Cloth, 18 mo. Each, 50 cents 



THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 
New York 



SYNOPSES 
OF DICKENS'S NOVELS 



BY 

J. WALKER McSPADDEN 

AUTHOR OF " SHAKSPERIAN SYNOPSES" 



NEW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 






a 



o^ 






COPVRIGUT, 1904 AND 190i», 

By THOMAS Y, CROWELL & CO. 



PREFACE ^ 

This little book was first issued in 1904, 
and has since made its way into several 
channels of activity. It has been reprinted 
in connection with two different editions of 
Dickens's complete works, in America ; an 
English edition in separate form has been 
issued by the novelist's authorized pub- 
lishers in that country ; and it has even 
inspired friendly letters from far-away 
Australia. The present edition is a care- 
ful revision of the original work. 

The plan of the book is uniform with the 
au'lhor's earlier " Shaksperian Synopses," 
and later '^ Waverley Synopses."' It is a 
pocket guide to the plots and characters in 
the novels of Dickens. A chronological 
list of all his writings is succeeded by a 
key to each book, -^ its date, first appear- 



VI PREFACE 

ance, scene, time, personages, and plot. 
The chief threads of the plot are given in 
story-telling form, in order that the reader 
may carry them the more easily in his head. 
The current sin of most arguments lies 
in their being over-condensed and all- 
inclusive ; the result being a jumble of 
facts and names which leaves the ordinary 
reader in despair. This we have carefully 
tried to avoid in the present book, by 
reducing each story to its simplest dimen- 
sions. Nor have we tried to include every 
casually passing cabman and flunky — 
Avho would find place in the more exhaust- 
ive " Dictionaries '" — as that would defeat 
the aim and purpose of this book, which is 
to be a quick guide. 

The com.piler wishes to take this op- 
portunity to thank various critics and 
correspondents for friendly suggestions. 

J. W. M. 
New York, 
May, 1909. 



CONTENTS 



The Writings of Dickens, in Chronological 
Order 

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick 
Club 

The Adventures of Oliver Tavist 

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas 

NiCKLEBY . 

The Old Curiosity Shop 

Barnaby Rudge 

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuz 
ZLEWIT ...... 

Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son 

The Personal History of David Copper- 
field . 

Bleak House . 

Hard Times 

Little Dorrit . 

A Tale of Two Cities 

Great Expectations 

Our Mutual Friend 

The Mystery of Edwin DrooiS 

Index to CharactepvS 

vii 



1 

15 

27 
43 
53 

67 
83 



97 
113 
129 
139 
153 
163 
175 
191 
201 



THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS 

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 

1835 

Sketches by Boz. Published in detached parts in 
the Monthly Magazine, and Morning and Evph- 
ing Chronicle. 

1836 

Sketches by Boz. Published in two volumes. 

Sketches by Boz. Second series. * Published in 
one volume. 

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. 
Nine numbers, issued monthly, April to De- 
cember. 

1837 

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. 
Eleven numbers, the last being double, issued 
monthly, January to October. Published in book 
form in latter month. 

Oliver Twist. Begun in Bentley''s Miscellany for 
January and continued throughout the year. 

1888 
Oliver Twist. Published in book form, three 
volumes. 

iz 



THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS 



Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. 
Nine numbers, issued monthly, April to De- 
cember. 

1839 
Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. 
Eleven numbers, the last being double, issued 
monthly, January to October. Published in book 
form in latter month. 

1840 

Master Humphrey's Clock. A series of sketches 
at first containing The Old Curiosity Shop (1840) 
and Bnrnahy Budge (1841) in addition to mis- 
cellanies. These miscellanies afterward pub- 
lished separately in one volume. 

The Old Curiosity Shop. Published separately in 
book form. 

1841 
Barnaby Rudge. Published separately in book 
form. 

1842 
American Notes for General Circulation. I'ub- 
lished in two volumes. 

1843 
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzi.k- 

wiT. Twelve numbers, issued monthly, January 

to December. 
A Christmas Carol in Prosk. Published complete 

in December. 



THE WRITINGS OF DICE ENS xi 

1844 

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzle- 
AviT. Eight numbers, the last being double, 
issued monthly, January to July. Published in 
book form in latter month. 

The Chimes. Published complete. 

1845 
Thk Cricket on the Hearth. Published complete 
in December. 

1846 
Pictures from Italy. First appeared as Travelling 

Letters in the Daily News, January to March. 

Then published complete. 
Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son. 

Three numbers, issued monthly, October to 

December. 
The Battle of Life. Published complete. 

1847 
Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son. 
Twelve numbers, issued monthly, January to 
December. 

1848 
Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son. 

Five numbers, the last being double, issued 
monthly, January to April. Published in book 
form in latter month. 
The Haunted Man. Published complete. 



Xll THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS 

1849 
The Personal History of David Copperfield. 
Eight numbers, issued monthly, May to De- 
cember. 

1850 
The Personal History of David Copperfield. 

Twelve numbers, the last being double, issued 
monthly, January to November. Published in 
book form in latter month. 
Household Words. This weekly serial established 
March 30, and continued to May 28, 1859. 
Many writings first appeared here. 

1852 
Bleak House. Ten numbers, issued monthly, March 
to December. 

1853 

Bleak House. Ten numbers, the last being double, 
issued monthly, January to September. Pub- 
lished in book form in latter month. 

A Child's History of England. Reprinted from 
Household Words, in volume form. 

1854 
Hard Times. Appeared in Household Words, April 
to August. Published in book form in latter 
month. 

1855 
LrTTLE Dorrit. One number issued in December. 



THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS XlJl 

1856 
Little Dokrit. Twelve numbers, issued monthly, 
Januaiy to December. 

1857 
Little Dorrit. Seven numbers, the last being 
double, issued monthly, January to June. Pub- 
lished in book form in latter month. 

1859 
All the Year Round. A weekly serial which took 

the place of Household Words ; ran uninterrupted 

till Dickens's death, and was continued by his 

son. 
A Tale of Tavo Cities. Appeared in All the Year 

Bound, April to November. Published in book 

form, December. 

1860 
PIuNTED Down. Written for an American newspaper 

and reprinted in All the Year Bound. 
The Uncommercial Traveller. Appeared in All 

the Year Bound, January to October. . Published 

in book form, December. 
Great Expectations. Begun in All the Year 

Bound, December. 

1861 
(iuEAT Expectations. Continued in weekly num- 
bers, January to August, All the Year Bound. 
I'ublished in book form in August. 



XIV THE WRITLNGS OF DICKENS 



1864 

(^UR Mutual Frieni>. Eight numbers, issued 
monthly, May to December. 

1865 

Our Mutual Friend. Twelve numbers, the last 
being double, issued January to November. 
Published in book form in latter month. 

1868 

(Jeorge Silverman's Explanation. Published in 
the Atlantic Monthly (Boston), January to 
March ; also in All the Year Bounds February. 

Holiday Romance. Published in Our Young Folks 
(Boston), January to May ; also in All the Year 
Bounds January to April. 

1870 

The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Begun in April, 
and planned to comprise twelve monthly num- 
bers, but prematurely closed in September by 
the writer's death the preceding June. Pub- 
lished, incomplete, in September. 



THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS XV 



MISCELLANIES 

The foregoing list does not take into account tlie early 
operas and scattered writings not placed in the 
authorised edition ; nor the numerous sketches, 
tales, and Christmas stories published in various 
periodicals, chiefly the two weeklies conducted 
by Dickens, Household Words and All the Year 
Bound. These Christmas stories were written 
in collaboration with other authors, chiefly 
Wilkie Collins. The most important of the 
titles are as follows : — 

Early and Scattered Writings 

1836. Sunday under Three Heads ; The Strange 
Gentleman, a Comic Burletta ; The Village 
Coquettes, a Comic Opera, 

1837. Is She His Wife? a Comic Burletta; The 
Mudfog Papers ; The Lamplighter, a Farce. 

1838. Sketches of Young Gentlemen ; Memoirs of 
Joseph Grimaldi. 

1840. Sketches of Young Couples. 

1841. The Pic-Nic Papers. 

1851. Mr. Nightingale's Diary, a Farce. 

Christmas Stories in "Household Words" 

1854. The Seven Poor Travellers. 

1855. The Holly Tree Inn. 

1856. The Wreck of the Golden Mary. 

1857. The Perils of Certain English Prisoners. 

1858. A House to Let. 



XVI THE WRITINGS OF DICKENS 



Christmas Stories in "All the Year Round 

1859. The Haunted House. 

1860. A Message from the Sea. 

1861. Tom Tiddler's Ground. 

1862. Somebody's Luggage. 

1863. Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings. 

1864. Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy. 

1865. Dr. Marigold's PrescriptionSo 

1866. Mugby Junction. 

1867. No Thoroughfare. 



THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF 
THE PICKWICK CLUB 



First novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 

from April, 183G, to October, 1837; 

published in book form, October, 1837. 

Scene : London, Rochester, Ipswich, Bath, and towns 
and rural districts near the metropolis. 

Time : 1827-1831, 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Benjamin Allen, medical student. 

Arabella Allen, his sister. 

''Allen's Aunt." 

Angelo Cyrus Bantam, society leader at Bath. 

Mrs. Martha Bardell, landlady to Pickwick in 

London. 
Master "Tom3iy" Bardell, Tier so?i. 
Blotton, member Pickwick Club. 
Captain Boldwig, country gentleman. 
Miss Bolo, member of card party with Pickwick. 
Mrs. Budger, widov^ ; member of Rochester socieJ^. 
Sergeant Buzfuz, advocate in court against Pickwick. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Clvpti-ss, friend to Mrs. Bardell. 
Mrs. Craddock, landlady to Pickwick iii Bath. 
"Dismal Jemmy," brother to Job Trotter. 
DoDsoN, of Dodson and Fogg, lawyers. 
DowLER, acquaintance of Pickwick in Bath. 
Mrs. Dowler, his wife. 
DuBBLEY, special constable, Ipswich. 
Horatio Fizkin, candidate for Parliament from 

Eatanswill. 
\ViLKiNS Flasher, speculator. 
Fogg, of Dodson and Fogg, lawyers. 
GooDw^iN, servant to Mrs. Potts. 
Grummer, special constable., Ipswich. 
Gunter, friend to Sawyer. 
3 



DICKENS HYNOPSES 



Harris, greengrocer at Bath. 

Jack Hopkins, friend to Sawyer. 

Anthony Humm, member Ebenezer Temperance 
Association. 

Leo Hunter, ^'■husband of Mrs. Leo Hunter." 

Mrs. Leo Hunter, literary scalp-hunter at Eatauswill. 

Jackson, clerk to Dodson and Fogg. 

Alfred Jingle, strolling plaijer and adventurer. 

Jinks, special constable., Ipswich. 

Joe, fat boy at Dingley Dell, who divides his time 
between eating and sleeping. 

LovvTEN, clerk to Perker. 

Peter Magnus, acquaintance 0/ Pickwick at Ipswich. 

Mallard, clerk to Snubbin. 

Martin, gamekeeper to Wardle. 

Mary, servant to Nupkins; afterwards wife to Sam 
Weller. 

Miller, friend to Wardle. 

MiviNS, inmate of Fleet Prison. 

Jonas Mudge, member Ebenezer Temperance Asso- 
ciation. 

Lord Mutanhed, member of society at Bath. 

Muzzle, special constable., Ipswich. 

Namby, sheriff's officer. 

Noddy, friend to Sawyer. 

George Nupkins, magistrate., Ipswich. 

Mrs. Nupkins, his wife. 

Henrietta Nupkins, his daughter. 

Dr. Payne, of the 43d Regiment. 

80LOMON Pell, lawyer. 

l^ERKER, counsel to Pickwick. 

1'hunkt, junior to Snubbin in Pickwick trial. 



Ttt^ PICKWICK PAPSns 5 

Sa3iuel Pickwick, president Pickwick Club, gentle- 
man of inquiring turn and independent mean>(. 

Pott, editor Eatanswill Gazette. 

Mrs. Pott, his icife. 

Mrs. Kaddle, landlady to Sawyer. 

Raddle, ^^ husband to Mrs. Raddle" (below). 

Mrs. Mary Ann Raddle, friend to Mrs. Bardell. 

Mrs. Rogers, lodger with Mrs. Bardell. 

Tom Roker, turnkey^ Fleet Prison. 

Mrs. Susannah Sanders, friend to Mrs. Bardell. 

"Bob" Sawyer, medical student and practitioner. 

SiMMERY, speculator. 

Skimpin, junior to Buzfuz in Pickwick trial. 

Dr. Slammer, of the 97th Regiment. 

Samuel Slumkey, candidate for Parliament, from 
Eatanswill. 

Slurk, editor Eatanswill Independent. 

Smangle, inmate of Fleet Prison. 

John Smauker, footman to Bantam, 

Joseph Smiggers, member Pickwick Club. 

Count Smorltork, French author. 

Sjiouch, sheriffs officer. 

Augustus Snodgrass, member Pickwick Club. 

Sergeant Snubbin, advocate in Court /or Pickwick. 

Lady Snuphanugh, member of card party with Pick- 
wick. 

Justice Stareleigh, presiding officer Pickwick 
trial. 

Stiggins, "shepherd" in the church "flock" to which 
Mrs. Weller belongs. 

Lieutenant Tappleton, of the 97th Regiment. 

Job Trotter, servant to Alfred Jingle. 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Trundle, suitor, then husband, of Isabella Wardle. 

Tdckle, footman in Bath. 

Tracy Tupman, member Pickwick Club. 

Wardle, country gentleman at Dingley Dell. 

Mrs. Wardle, his mother. 

Raciiael Wardle, his sister. 

Emily Wardle, his daughter. 

Isabella Wardle, his daughter; afterwards Mrs. 
Trundle. 

Tony Weller, coachman, and proprietor of Marquis 
of Graiiby Inn. 

Mrs. Susan Weller, his second icife. 

Samuel Weller, his son ; servant to Pickwick. 

Whiffens, footman in Bath. 

Wicks, clerk to Dodson and Fogg. 

Winkle, retired gentleman. 

Nathaniel Winkle, his son ; member Pickwick Club. 

Miss Witherfield, '■^lady in curl j9apers," whom 
Pickwick accidentally meets at Ipswich. 

"Mrs. Col." Wugsby, member of card party with 
Pickwick. 

The two Misses Wugsby, her daughters. 

Crushton, and other social lights; Dumkins, Luffey, 
Staple, Podder, and Struggles, cricketers; Simp- 
son ; Emma, servant; Hunt and Wilkins, gar- 
deners; Martin, coachman; Simpson, Price, and 
others in Fleet Prison; "One-eyed Bagman"; 
" Gabriel Grub," " Hutley Pipkin," " Lobb," " Tom 
Smart," "Jack Martin," and other characters men- 
tioned in stories; cabmen, chaplain, clergyman, 
landlords, drivers, court officers, and others. 



ARGUMENT 

" The Posthumous Papers of the Pick- 
wick Club " deal, as the title suggests, 
with a series of separate incidents, rather 
than a single connected plot ; they are a 
sort of humorous " Odyssey," chronicling 
the wanderings and adventures of a group 
of friends. 

Samuel Pickwick, Esquire, the founder 
and president of the Pickwick Club, an 
association devoted to research and con- 
viviality, with headquarters in London, is 
a corpulent, benevolent gentleman in mid- 
dle life, whose scientific sense hardly equals 
his simplicity. But being desirous of con- 
ducting personal tours of investigation in 
the outlying districts, he obtains the Club's 
permission to take a small committee of 
friends with him in a series of excursions. 
This committee consists of Tracy Tup- 
man, Augustus Snodgrass, and Nathaniel 
Winkle. 

7 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Their first journey is to Rochester and 
neighbouring towns in Kent. An eccen- 
tric strolling player, of disconnected speech, 
who is later introduced as Alfred Jingle, 
rescues Pickwick from a cabman, accom- 
panies the party to Rochester, and dines 
with them there. He and Tupman go to a 
ball, where Jingle's behaviour, in Winkle's 
borrowed clothes, involves the latter gen- 
tleman in a duel. This is happily averted, 
and the friends go to a military review, 
where they narrowly escape the cross- 
firing, but survive to meet a country gen- 
tleman of Dingley Dell, Mr. Wardle, and 
his two daughters and sister, to say nothing 
of Joe, the fat boy. 

Wardle invites Pickwick and his three 
friends to his farm. They go and enjoy 
various rural sports, such as shooting — 
wherein Winkle misses the bird and hits 
Tupman in the arm — and cricketing. 
Tupman's slight wound is nursed by Miss 
Wardle, the spinster sister, and his belated 
affections are roused to the proposing 
point. Unfortunately — or fortunately — 



THE PICKWICK PAPERS 



for him, Jingle apjDears on the scene, steals 
away the lady's heart, and runs off with 
her to London. A thrilling chase ensues 
on the part of Wardle and Pickwick. 
The elopers are overhauled in London, 
and the designing Jingle is bribed to 
forego his matrimonial scheme. 

At the inn where the elopers are found, 
Pickwick's attention is attracted to a ser- 
vant by the name of Sam Weller. He 
determines to take Sam for valet, and 
tries to announce this determination to 
Mrs. Bardell, his landlady, when that 
worthy woman decides that Pickwick is 
making her a proposal of marriage, and 
promptly faints in his arms. 

When Pickwick extricates himself from 
this scene, he takes his three friends and 
Sam to Eatanswill, where they witness an 
election and attend a reception given by 
Mrs. Leo Hunter, author of the " Ode to 
an Expiring Frog." They again meet 
Jingle, whom Pickwick pursues to Bury 
St. Edmonds. Jingle and his servant, 
Job Trotter, there prove too much for 



10 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Pickwick and Sam Weller. Pickwick is 
lured into the grounds of a ladies' board- 
ing-school, to the consternation of the 
inmates and also of the intruder. 

Pickwick and his friends pay another 
visit to Dingley Dell, where they go hunt- 
ing. Pickwick trespasses upon a private 
estate, and is put in the pound. When 
he returns to London, he takes steps to 
fight a lawsuit for breach of promise, en- 
tered by Mrs. Bardell through the sharp 
law firm of Dodson and Fogg. Then he 
journeys to Ipswich, where some exciting 
adventures arise. In a tavern he blun- 
ders into the wrong bedchamber, one occu- 
pied by a spinster lady in curl papers. 
Her admirer threatens to fight him, and 
in alarm the lady gets out a warrant 
against Pickwick. He is only released 
through the ingenuity of Sam Weller, 
who learns that the magistrate of the 
town is being imposed upon by Jingle 
and Trotter. Sam is thus enabled also 
to pay off his score against that couple. 

One more excursion is set down in the 



THE PICKWICK PAPERS 11 

first volume — a Christmas visit to Dingley 
Dell, where one of the Wardle girls 
becomes Mrs. Trundle, and the wedding 
bells and Yule-tide bells mingle merrily. 

Volume Two finds the Pickwick group 
still at the Wardle homestead. Snodgrass 
is the devoted admirer of Emily, the re- 
maining daughter. Winkle has found an 
affinity in Arabella Allen. Tupman has 
forsworn love since the time Jingle out- 
stripped him. Arabella's brother Ben 
and his chum, Bob Sawyer, two medical 
students, arrive at Dingley Dell. Bob is 
a rival of Winkle's. 

Pickwick returns to the city in good 
time for the spring term at court, when 
his trial comes up. Mrs. Bardell wins 
her suit and is awarded damages to the 
extent of seven hundred and fifty pounds. 
This Pickwick refuses to pay, and there- 
fore faces the alternative of being com- 
mitted to prison in two months' time. He 
employs the interval of freedom in a visit 
to Bath, where he attends a reception of 
society; Sam Weller attends another, of 



12 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

footmen ; and Winkle has a thrilling night 
adventure with a lady and a sedan-chair. 
This adventure causes Winkle to proceed 
hastily to a neighbouring town, where, 
however, he has the good fortune to hear 
tidings of Arabella Allen. Sam and his 
master come to his assistance, and a clan- 
destine interview is successfully carried 
through with the young lady. Sam, mean- 
while, does some courting on his own 
account with Mary, a pretty housemaid. 
Pickwick is presently incarcerated in 
Fleet Prison for non-payment of the Bar- 
dell damages. The devoted Sam causes 
himself to be likewise arrested as a debtor, 
by means of a scheme arranged with his 
father, Tony Weller, a fat, much-married 
coachman. Other debtors whom Pickwick 
is astonished to find amoug the prisoners 
are Alfred Jingle and Job Trotter. They 
have speedily run through the money 
obtained from Wardle, and are now in the 
depth of poverty. Pickwick's generous 
heart is touched, and he relieves their 
distress. 



THE PICKWICK PAPERS 13 

After Pickwick has remained three 
months in the prison, another surprising 
inmate arrives in the person of Mrs. Bar- 
dell, who has been held by her lawyers 
for the costs of her lawsuit. Pickwick 
relents, at this juncture, to the extent of 
paying these costs, and she is glad to sign 
a release on the damages. 

Jingle and Trotter are also discharged 
through Pickwick's instrumentality, and 
take a new start in life as emigrants. 

The first expedition undertaken by Pick- 
wick upon obtaining his freedom is on 
behalf of Winkle, who has succeeded in 
marrying Arabella Allen in spite of her 
brother Ben, who has favoured Sawyer. 
Pickwick reconciles the opposing forces 
and also visits Winkle's father, but with 
poor results. The latter, however, is soon 
brought to look with favourable eye upon 
his new daughter. 

Pickwick is no sooner relieved of this 
tangle than he is involved in another by 
Snodgrass, who is on the point of eloping 
with Emily Wardle. A fatherly sanction, 



14 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

however, renders this step unnecessary, and 
the young couple are united in due form 
at Pickwick's own home — a new house 
at Dulwich. Here Pickwick, having dis- 
solved his Club, passes his remaining years 
in peaceful retirement, attended by Sam 
Weller and Sam's wife, Mary. 



THE ADVENTURES OF 
OLIVER TWIST 

Second novel ; appeared in Bentley''s Miscellany, 
January to December, 1837, 
under the sub-title of " The Parish Boy's Progress' 
published in book form in 1838. 

Scene : London and neighbouring towns. 

Time : 1825-1837. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Barney, assistant in " Three Cripples" Tavern. 

Charley Bates, pickpocket in Fagin gang. 

Mrs. Bedwin, housekeeper for Bvo'niAo'n . 

Betsey, street-walker. 

Brittles, servant to Mrs. Maylie. 

Brownlow, benefactor of Oliver Twist. 

Bumble, beadle, then master of workhouse. 

Mrs. Bumble, see Mrs. Corney. 

Charlotte, maid to the Sowerberrys. 

Thomas Chitling, pickpocket in Fagin gang. 

Noah Claypole, apprentice to Sowerberry, then mem- 
ber of Fagin gang. 

Mrs. Corney, matron of workhouse, then wife of 
Bumble. 

Toby Crackit, house-breaker. 

John ("Jack") Dawkins, the "Artful Dodger," 
pickpocket in Fagin gang. 

Fagin, Jew at head of gang of thieves. 

Fang, police magistrate. 

Rose Fleming, adopted niece of Mrs. Maylie, whose 
name she took. 

Gamfielb, chimney sweeper. 

Giles, servant to Mrs. Maylie. 

Grimwig, friend of Brownlow. 

Kags, thief. 

Edward Leeford, see Monks. 
17 



18 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

LosBERNE, surgeon^ friend of the Maylies. 

Mrs. Mann, matron of workhouse orphanage. 

Mr8. Maylie, benefactress of Oliver Twist. 

Harry Maylie, her son. 

Rose (Fleming) Maylie, her adopted niece. 

Monks (Edward Leeford), half-hrother to Oliver 

Twist, dnd accomplice to Fagin. 
Nancy, street-tmUcer, and mistress of Sikes. 
William ("Bill") Sikes, house-breaker. 
Sowerberry, undertaker. 
Mrs. Sowerberry, his wife. 
Oliver Twist, a icorkhouse foundling. 

"Workhouse officers a7id inmates: Limbkins, Mrs. 
Thingummy, surgeon, old women, "Dick," a7id 
other boys ; Blathers and Duff, officers ; landlord 
of "Three Cripples" Tavern ; constable, tinker, 
jailers, etc. Agnes Fleming, mother to Oliver 
Twist, appears momentarily on the scene. 



ARGUMENT 

" The Adventures of Oliver Twist " are 
placed in the lowest stratum of English 
society, — among the thieves, blackguards, 
and parish poor, who are depicted in their 
repulsive reality without the false glamour 
often lent by romancers and librettists. 
The person of the innocent boy Oliver is 
shown in conjunction with, but unpolluted 
by, vice and crime. He may be regarded 
as a lay figure established for the sake of 
parallel. To quote the author, *' I wished 
to show, in little Oliver, the principle of 
Good surviving through every adverse cir- 
cumstance, and triumphing at last." 

In the workhouse of a certain town, 
about seventy-five miles from London, a 
poor erring young woman, evidently of 
the better class, but wearing no wedding- 
ring, finds refuge, and soon after gives 
birth to a boy, named by the parish beadle, 
Oliver Twist. The mother does not sur- 
19 



20 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

vive ; and the infant takes his place among 
the half -starved children of the workhouse 
orphanage, being systematically ill-treated 
there until he is nine years old, when 
Bumble, the beadle, removes him again to 
the workhouse proper where he is put to 
work picking oakum. The food rations, 
largely gruel, are dealt out so sparingly 
that the hungry boys cast lots as to who 
shall ask for more. The choice falls to 
Oliver, and his meek request brings him 
into disgrace with the " board." They let 
him out as apprentice to Sowerberry, an 
undertaker. He stays here but a short 
time until a victorious fight w^ith Noah 
Claypole, a bullying apprentice older than 
himself, again brings him into disgrace 
and punishment, when Oliver, now about 
ten years old, runs away to London. 

On the outskirts of the town the weary 
child is encountered by Jack Dawkins, 
otherwise known as the " Artful Dodger," 
a boy pickpocket in the employ of Fagin, 
a Jew. Oliver is brought to the Jew and 
an effort is made to teach him '' the trade." 



OLIVER TWIST 21 

The innocent boy suspects no wrong until 
taken out on an expedition with Dawkins 
and Charley Bates, another of the gang. 
The two thieves pick a gentleman's pocket, 
and the astounded Oliver runs away on 
seeing the deed — an unlucky move for 
him, since he is suspected, pursued, cap- 
tured, and taken before a magistrate. He 
is released on evidence, however, and Mr. 
Brownlow, the gentleman whose pocket 
has suffered, takes him to his home and 
befriends him. 

But Fagin and his gang do not intend 
to let Oliver escape them, as he is pos- 
sessed of their secrets. Through the in- 
strumentality of Nancy, a girl of the 
streets, and her lover. Bill Sikes, a ruf- 
fianly house-breaker identified with Fagin, 
the boy is captured and brought back to 
the Jew's den. He is forced to go on a 
house-breaking expedition with Sikes, in 
order to put him in the law-breaking class 
and thus close his mouth. The burglary 
is a failure. Oliver is wounded and left 
lying in a ditch by Sikes. The next morn- 



22 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

ing the boy manages to reach the same 
house which the robbers had attacked. The 
inmates, Mrs. Maylie and her adopted niece 
Rose, believe his story of innocence and, 
with their surgeon friend. Dr. Losberne, 
care for him during his illness and throw 
the detectives off the scent. They become 
greatly attached to their protege, and the 
grateful lad continues to live with them. 

Their joint happiness receives a shock 
in the critical illness of Rose, a beautiful 
girl of seventeen, who, however, recovers. 
Her illness brings upon the scene Harry 
Maylie, son of Mrs. Maylie. The young 
man renews his suit for Rose's hand, but 
the girl refuses him because of a blot in 
her family history. 

The Jew again searches out Oliver's re- 
treat, being seconded by Monks, a myste- 
rious persecutor of the boy. Plots are laid 
against Oliver's welfare, when his cause 
finds an unexpected champion in Nancy, 
who at great risk acquaints Rose with the 
situation. Rose reveals the conspiracy to 
Mr. Brownlow, Oliver's earlier friend, and 



OLIVER TWIST 23 



they hold another interview with Nancy. 
The latter is followed at this time by Noah 
Claypole, now a spy for Fagin, who tells 
the Jew and Sikes of the girl's defection. 
The infuriated Sikes rushes to his sweet- 
heart, and although she truthfully pro- 
tests that she has shielded him from 
discovery and is faithful to him still, he 
brutally murders her with a club. The 
man then takes to flight, followed by his 
dog, a close companion of his hitherto. 
But after dodging about in the country, 
the reckless murderer comes back to Lon- 
don, deeming that the best place to hide. 
A great hue and cry has meantime been 
raised, urged on by Mr. Brownlow. Sikes 
is traced partly by the sight of his dog, 
and in attempting to escape his pursuers 
he hangs himself. 

The entire gang is broken up at this 
time through evidence in Mr. Brownlow's 
hands. Fagin is tried and executed, dying 
as meanly as he had lived. Dawkins had 
previously been transported, and Bates 
reforms. Noah turns state's evidence and 



24 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

thus escapes. No direct evidence holds 
Monks ; but Mr. Brownlow chances to 
know the true facts of .his career, and ex- 
torts a confession from him, showing him 
to be the half-brother of Oliver, the latter 
being a natural son. The father is dead, 
but his will provided also for Oliver. For 
this reason Monks has been aiding Fagin, 
his agent, to ruin the lad. By Monks's 
statement it is also revealed that Rose 
Maylie is the sister of Oliver's mother, and 
that Rose's own name is free from stain. 

Monks is permitted to take his portion 
of the legacy and go to America, where he 
falls into further evil and dies in prison. 
Rose consents, after her past history is 
cleared, to become Mrs. Harry Maylie. 
Oliver is adopted by Mr. Brownlow ; and 
they with the Maylies and their stanch 
friends, the surgeon Losberne and the 
eccentric Grimwig, — not to ignore the 
faithful Maylie servants, Giles and Brittles, 
— form a congenial village community 
bound together by the closest ties of 
affection . 



OLIVER TWIST 25 

No other characters are important enough 
to demand outline here, unless they be Mr. 
and Mrs. Bumble. This beadle, the op- 
pressor of Oliver's youth, pursues his career 
as bully of the poor, until he marries the 
workhouse matron and joins the ranks 
of the henpecked. The worthy pair are 
shown to be implicated in the plot against 
Oliver and later lose their offices. They 
sink into poverty and end as inmates of the 
workhouse where they formerly reigned. 



THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 

Fourth novel ; 

published in " Master Humphrey's Clock" 

in 1840. 

Scene : London and neighbouring towns. 

Time : 1840. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Barbara, inaicl to the Garlands. 

"Barbara's Mother." 

Sampson Brass, attojiiey. 

Miss Sally Brass, his sister. 

Cheggs, market gardener. 

Miss Cheggs, his sister. 

Chuckster, clerk to Witherden. 

Thomas Codlin, a "Punch" showman. 

Miss Edwards, at Monflathers' hoarding school. 

Garland, retired gentleman. 

Mrs. Garland, his wife. 

Abel Garland, his son. 

Mrs. George, friend of Mrs. Quilp. 

Grinder, travelling showman. 

Jem Groves, gambler. 

Harris, or "Short Trotters," a "Punch" shoiv- 

man. 
Mrs. Jarley, of a " Wax- Work" show. 
Jerry, manager of dancing dogs. 
Mrs, Jiniwin, mother of Mrs. Quilp. 
Mat Jowl, gambler. 
Isaac List, gambler. 
" Marchioness," servant to the Brasses. 
Marton, schoolmaster. 

Miss Monflathers, head of a boarding school. 
Mrs. Nubbles, indigent widow. 
Christopher (" Kit ") Nubbles, her son. 
45 



46 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Jacob Nubbles, her son. 

Daniel Quilp, a divarf. 

Mrs. Quilp, his toife. 

Tom Scott, servant to Quilp. 

Mrs. Henrietta Simmons, friend of Mrs. Quilp. 

Slum, poet. 

Richard Swiveller, "gentleman of fortune." 

Trent, grandfather to Little Nell. 

Trent, his brother. 

Frederick Trent, brother to Little Nell. 

Nelly Trent, known as Little Nell. 

VuFFiN, travelling showman. 

Mrs. Wackles, a widow., whose daughters run a 

" Ladies seminary." 
Sophia Wackles, her daughter., aftet^ard Mrs. 

Chegg. 
Jane Wackles, daughter of Mrs. Wackles. 
Melissa Wackles, daughter of Mrs. Wackles. 

Friends of Little Nell, such as a "bachelor," clergy- 
man, sexton, little boy, furnace tender, landlord, 
canal men, and others. 



ARGUMENT 

" The Old Curiosity Shop " itself has 
actually very little concern with this story. 
It is the first stage-setting, but after the 
thirteenth chapter it becomes entirely de- 
serted, and a rusty padlock is fastened on 
the door. Nor is it again opened. The 
story might be appropriately styled " The 
Wanderers," or even '' Little Nell," for the 
action revolves around the small heroine 
and her weary quest for a safe retreat for 
her grandfather and herself. Incidentally 
the book is a sermon on gambling. Pri- 
marily it is a study in contrasts. " The 
lonely figure of the child " is surrounded 
by " grotesque and wild but not impossible 
companions," whose shadowy figures flit 
by with all the rapidity of a kaleidoscope. 
" Master Humphrey " is the supposed nar- 
rator of the opening chapters. 

"Little Nell" Trent, a quiet, lovable 
girl, lives with her aged grandfather in an 
47 



48 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

old curiosity shop in London, at the be- 
ginning of the story, and, though she is a 
diminutive child of scarcely fourteen years, 
she proves a capable housekeeper. The 
grandfather, however, in a passion to secure 
a fortune for her, becomes addicted to gam- 
bling and thus ends in bankruptcy. He 
has borrowed money and fallen under the 
power of a malignant dwarf, Daniel Quilp, 
who sells him out without compunction. 
The old man is seized with a raging fever, 
which leaves him weakened in mind and 
body. He grows so fearful of the dwarf 
that Little Nell packs their scanty per- 
sonal belongings and they flee secretly. 
Henceforth the heroic spirit of this devoted 
child bears the burdens of both. 

Their flight brings hardships and strange 
adventures. They fall in with two 
"Punch" showmen, who are not unkind 
and allow them to accompany the show. 
But the men get the idea that a reward 
may be forthcoming if they keep the fugi- 
tives, and Nell and lier grandfather take 
alarm and renew their solitary way. 



THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 49 

Their next friend is a quiet schoolmaster, 
who is heartbroken at the loss by death of 
his favourite pupil. Little Nell is installed 
in the lad's place in the master's affections, 
but she and her grandfather do not tarry 
here. They wander on and are taken up 
by the caravan of a Mrs. Jarley who man- 
ages a wax- work exhibition. Mrs. Jarley 
is pleased with Nell's pretty face and en- 
gages her to exhibit the figures. The 
child succeeds well in her new position 
and maintains herself and her grandfather 
in comparative comfort, until he chances 
to fall into the clutches of card sharpers. 
His old gambling fever is again aroused. 
He loses every penny the child can earn, 
and is even tempted to dishonesty. Nell 
learns the peril and is forced to flee with 
him again to keep him from danger. 

After a hard journey and sufferings 
which sow the seeds of disease in the 
child's tender body, they are rescued by 
the poor schoolmaster who had previously 
befriended them, and who watches over 
them henceforth. He procures them a 



50 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

home in a town to which he is removing 
— a tumble-down mansion across from a 
church whose keys are given into Nell's 
custody. During the few remaining 
months of her pathetic life she is often 
to be found in the church or its quiet 
churchyard — more like a spirit than a 
person of earth. 

Meantime in London more than one 
person had sought for the fugitives. Quilp, 
through motives of self-interest, offers 
rewards for their recovery. And a long- 
missing brother of Nell's grandfather de- 
votes his life to finding them. He takes 
up his abode with Sampson Brass, a 
"shj^ster" lawyer who is in league with 
Quilp, and watches this worthy pair. He 
makes the acquaintance of honest, awk- 
ward, good-natured Kit Nubbles who was 
one of Nell's protectors in the old curios- 
ity shop days, and the only ray of merri- 
ment that came into her life. Through 
the " Punch " showmen he and Kit obtain 
a clew to the runaways, but too late to fol- 
low it successfully. 



THE OLD CUlilOSITY SHOP 51 

Kit, who is now niaii-of-all-work for 
Mr. and Mrs. Garland, a quiet, well-to-do 
couple, incurs the hatred of the terrible 
dwarf, who commands his creature Brass 
to plot the lad's ruin. This is all but 
accomplished by a trumped-up charge of 
theft, when a disclosure of affairs turns the 
tables. Kit is liberated to find himself a 
popular hero ; Brass is sent to the chain- 
gang ; and Quilp drowns in attempting to 
escape arrest. 

Search is maintained for Nell and her 
grandfather, who are at last heard of 
through the Garlands. The searchers 
drive post-haste to the town where the 
wanderers have taken refuge, only to find 
that the great-hearted child has died a few 
hours before, and the old man is demented 
through grief. He does not recognise his 
brother, nor will he believe that Little 
Nell is gone from him. He takes up his 
daily station at her grave, and is found 
lying dead upon it one day. 

The other characters are briefly disposed 
uf by the author. Most of the more promi- 



52 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

iient ones have been mentioned already. 
But notice should be taken of Miss Sally 
Brass, the remarkable mannish sister of 
the attorney, with heart of stone ; Rich- 
ard Swiveller, soldier of fortune, and the 
" Marchioness " who saved his life and 
thereby procured for herself a husband; 
Kit's sweetheart Barbara, and their respec- 
tive mothers ; poor frightened Mrs. Quilp, 
Avhose husband's way of eating eggs, shell 
and all, and drinking scalding tea did not 
tend to reassure her ; and Frederick Trent, 
profligate brother of Little Nell. 



BARNABY RUDGE 

Fifth novel ; 

published in "Master Humphrey's Clock" 

in 1841. 

Scene : London and vicinity. 

Time: 1775-1780. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Akerman, governor of Newgate prison. 

Sir John Chester, member of Parliament. 

Edward Chester, his son. 

Thomas Cobb, chandler, 

Solomon Daisy, parish clerk, 

Edward Dennis, hangman. 

Gashford, secretary to Gordon. 

Mark Gilbert, an apprentice. 

Lord George Gordon, member of Parliament and 

president of " Protestant Association." 
John Grueby, lieutenant for a time to Gordon. 
Geoffrey Haredale, of the Warren. 
Emma Haredale, his niece. 
Hugh, natural son of Sir John Chester. 
Langdale, vintner. 
Miss Miggs, maid to the Vardens. 
Philip Parkes, ranger. 

RuDGE, incognito murderer of Reuben Haredale. 
Mrs. Mary Rudge, his wife. 
Barnaby Rudge, their half-witted son. 
Stagg, blind man. 

Simon Tappertit, apprentice to Varden. 
Gabriel Varden, locksmith. 
Mrs. Martha Varden, his unfe. 
Dolly Varden, their daughter. 
John Willet, landlord of the Maypole Inn. 
Joe Willet, his son. 

Sergeant, soldiers, citizens, and mob. 
66 



ARGUMENT 

" Barnaby Rnclge " is the hero of the 
present novel only in the sense that the 
long-extended and intricate action revolves 
around him. The book begins as a tale 
of mystery, and culminates in the Gordon 
" No Popery " riots of 1780. 

The scene opens five years earlier, at the 
Maypole Inn, twelve miles from London. 
John Willet, its burly, obtuse landlord, has 
three fireside cronies who aid him in bully- 
ing his son Joe, who, though grown, is 
still treated as a mere boy. One of these 
cronies tells a mysterious stranger the 
story of a murder that had been com 
mitted in the neighbourhood twenty-two 
years earlier. Reuben Haredale, the 
owner of the Warren, a then prosperous 
estate, had been found murdered in his 
bed-chamber, and a large sum of money 
57 



58 mCKENS STNOPSES 

stolen. '-^ The steward and the gardener," 
continues the narrator, '' were both miss- 
ing, and both suspected for a long time, 
but they were never found, though hunted 
far and wide. And far enough they might 
have looked for poor Mr. Rudge, the stew- 
ard, whose body — scarcely to be recog- 
nised by his clothes and the watch and 
ring he wore — was found, months after- 
ward, at the bottom of a piece of water in 
the grounds." Suspicion for the double 
crime rests upon the gardener, concludes 
the narrator, and the murderer has never 
been apprehended. 

This belief, while general, is not uni- 
versal, for as Geoffrey Haredale, brother 
of the slain gentleman, has come into pos- 
session of the estate, there are not want- 
ing suspicions of his own share in the 
crime. This taint of doubt, acting upon 
Haredale's natural morbidness, embitters 
his whole life. He lives almost in seclu- 
sion on the now semi-ruinous estate, show- 
ing marked kindness to but two people, — 
his niece, Emma Haredale, for whom he 



BARNABY BUDGE 59 



cares as tenderly as a father, and Mrs. 
Riidge, wife of the former steward, to whom 
Haredale gives an allowance. Barnaby 
Rudge, her son, born the day after the 
tragedy, has carried its marks upon him 
from his birth, being weak mentally, given 
to fantastic imaginings, and possessed by 
an innate horror of blood. Yet he is so 
gentle and kind-hearted withal as to be a 
general favourite in the countryside with 
both man and beast. His raven Grip, with 
its demoniac slyness and croaking remarks, 
" I'm a devil " and " Polly put the kettle 
on," is also a personage of note. 

The mysterious stranger, who is present 
at the Inn on the night the story of the 
murder is told, commits a highway rob- 
bery that same night, and is also discov- 
ered afterward to have some power over 
Mrs. Rudge. This worthy woman, in fact, 
becomes so alarmed over his visits to her 
cottage, that she relinquishes her Haredale 
annuity and flees with Barnaby to a distant 
village, where they are lost to sight for five 
years. 



60 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Geoffrey Hareclale has a lifetime enemy 
in the person of John Chester (afterward 
knighted). Haredale had been his drudge 
and scapegoat at school, and in after life 
Chester has lost no opportunity to injure 
him. Chester, while outwardly an urbane 
and polished gentleman, is really a master 
of dissimulation. His present ambition is 
that his son Edward ma}^ marry an heiress 
and thus provide much-needed money for 
his own expensive tastes. Edward, how- 
ever, a young man of good impulse, has 
fallen in love with Emma Haredale, who 
returns his affection. The match is dis- 
tasteful to Chester and Haredale alike, 
and they agree for once to work together 
in preventing it. A bit of treachery 
easily managed by Chester causes an es- 
trangement of the lovers. Chester and 
his son quarrel, and Edward leaves 
England. 

Chester is instrumental in wrecking an- 
other love affair at this time. Joe Willet 
of the Maypole, a friend of Edward's, has 
long cherished a devotion for pretty Dolly 



BARNABY BUDGE 61 

Varden, daughter of Gabriel Varden, a 
sturdy, good-natured locksmith of London. 
Dolly likes Joe, but is too great a coquette 
to admit it. Gabriel also is friendly, but 
Mrs. Varden, a zealous, religious bigot, 
aided by Miss Miggs, the melancholy ser- 
vant, is an adverse influence which the 
artful Chester turns to bad account for 
Joe. The latter is so browbeaten at home 
that he finally runs away, joins the army, 
and is sent to America. Dolly becomes 
the companion of Emma Haredale. 

The narrative here moves forward five 
years, to 1780. Lord George Gordon, the 
Protestant fanatic of history, is just be- 
ginning his " No Popery " campaign. By 
speeches and pamphlets he succeeds in 
collecting a mob of forty thousand men, 
mostly the scum and off-scouring of Lon- 
don. His shrewd and unprincipled lieu- 
tenants soon work the agitation up to fever 
heat and plot mischief. He himself seems 
to be a crack-brained visionary who wishes 
to use his followers in a demonstration 
against Parliament. This show of force 



62 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

is made, but as yet no actual violence is 
done the Catholics. 

Into this seething caldron poor Barnaby 
Rudge is presently cast. Mrs. Rudge's 
secluded home has been discovered by her 
persecutor, and in desperation she has 
come to the city to lose herself therein — 
only to involve her son, unwittingly, in 
the turmoil. Open lawlessness breaks 
forth. Chapels are pulled down and pri- 
vate houses fired. The Warren is burned, 
since Haredale is a Catholic and has in- 
curred the enmity of Chester and others. 
Emma Haredale and Dolly Varden are 
kidnapped. Haredale who has been in 
another part of London hurries to the 
Warren only to find it in ashes and the 
girls gone. But he discovers and seizes a 
man lurking in the ruins who proves to be 
Rudge the steward, long believed dead. 
Rudge had murdered both his master and 
the gardener, so disposing the latter's body 
as to lead to the impression that it was his 
own. Since that time he . had. lurked in 
the neighbourhood to the constant terror 



BARNABY BUDGE 60 

of Mrs. Rudge, who alone knew his secret, 
but Avas restrained from disclosing it, 
though herself innocent. 

Haredale secures Rudge's imprisonment 
in Newgate prison, but the rioters soon 
after break into tliis jail and liberate all 
the inmates. Gabriel Varden the lock- 
smith narrowly escapes with his life at this 
episode, since he refuses to aid in picking 
the Newgate lock. The insurrection rages 
in mad fury for a few nights and then is 
quenched in blood by the regular troops. 
Many of the leading rioters are seized, 
among them poor Barnaby who, however, 
has done no personal harm. At the end 
of the uprising the place of concealment of 
the kidnapped young women, Emma Hare- 
dale and Dolly Varden, is discovered by 
Geoffrey Haredale and two friends who 
have done him and others good service, — 
Edward Chester and Joe Willet. Edward 
had gone to the West Indies and engaged 
in a profitable business. Joe had lost an 
arm in the. American -Revolution. , Now 
they have returned to England in time to 



64 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

render valuable private aid for which each 
receives his dearest reward, — the hand 
of his sweetheart. Edward weds Emma 
Haredale, with her uncle's consent, and 
the two go to the West Indies. Joe is 
met more than halfway in his wooing of 
Dolly. The sturdy locksmith, whom the 
riots have developed into a hero, gives his 
daughter so generous a dowry that Joe is 
enabled to rejuvenate the Maypole Inn, 
dismantled by the rioters, and reign there 
as host. His father, who has suffered with 
the Inn in the riot, is cared for until his 
death, a few years later. 

Barnaby Rudge is tried with other 
rioters and sentenced to death by hang- 
ing. He is pardoned on the scaffold 
through the persistent efforts of Varden 
and others. The elder Rudge is executed ; 
and relieved of this dire encumbrance, 
Barnaby, his mother, and the raven Grip 
spend a peaceful life on the farm of the 
Maypole. Other rioters who suffer death 
are Dennis the former hangman, and Hugh 
an untamed demi-savage who had been 



BAHNABV BUDGE 65 

hostler at the Maypole until the riots be- 
gan, and who is afterward found to be the 
unacknowledged natural son of Sir John 
Chester. This knight becomes involved 
in a duel with his enemy Haredale and is 
killed by him. Haredale takes refuge in 
a convent and spends his few remaining 
years in severe penance. 

Of the other characters, Mrs. Varden 
overcomes her cant and narrow-minded- 
ness, especially when removed from the 
influence of Miggs, whose petty meanness 
and jealousy were in direct proportion to 
her shedding of tears. Simon Tappertit, 
Varden's foolish apprentice whom Miggs 
loved but who aspired to outrival Joe 
Willet in Dolly's affections, is a leading 
figure in the riots, whence he escapes with- 
out other punishment than the loss of his 
beloved legs. 



THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES 
OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT 

Sixth novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 
from January, 1843, to July, 1844 ; 
published in book form, July, 1844. 

Scene : England, chiefly Wiltshire and London ; 
points in the United States. 

Time : 1842. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Bailey (real name Benjamin), hoy at Todgers's ; 
lackey for Tigg. 

Be VAN, American /n>n(? to Martin Chuzzlewit, Jr. 

Jefferson Brick, imr correspondent^ American 
paper. 

General Cyrus Choke, an American. 

Hannibal Chollop, an American. 

Chuffey, clerk to Antliony Chuzzlewit and Son. 

Anthony Chuzzlewit, brother to Martin Senior. 

Jonas Chuzzlewit, his son. 

Martin Chuzzlewit, Sr., an aged man of wealth. 

Martin Chuzzlewit, Jr., his grandson. 

David Crimple, paimibroker. 

Colonel Diver, proprietor "New York Rowdy- 
Journal." 

Fips, agent to Martin Chuzzlewit, Sr. 

General Fladdock, an American. 

Mrs. Sarah (" Sairey") Gamp, midwife and nurse. 

Mary Graham, orphan protegee of Martin Chuzzle- 
wit, Sr. 

Major Hominy, an American. 

Mrs. Hominy, his wife, a strong-minded woman. 

JiNKiNs, senior hoarder at Todgers's. 

Dr. John Jobling, a tool of Tigg's. 

Lafayette Kettle, an American. 

Mrs. Lupin, landlady of the "Blue Dragon " Inn. 
' 69 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Lewsome, acquaintance of Jonas Chuzzlewit's. 

Augustus Moddle, youngest hoarder at Todgers's. 

Mould, undertaker. 

Mrs. Mould, his wife — and two daughters. 

Nadget, spy to Tigg. 

NoRRis, an American. 

Mrs. Norris, his wife — and family. 

Major Pawkins, American hoarding-house keeper. 

Mrs. Pawkins, his wife. 

Seth Pecksniff, a Wiltshire "architect and sur- 
veyor," an outwardly virtuous man; a relation 
of Martin Chuzzlewit's. 

Charity (" Cherry ") Pecksniff, his daughter. 

Mercy (" Merry ") Pecksniff, his daughter ; after- 
ward Mrs. Jonas Chuzzlewit. 

Thomas ("Tom") Pinch, assistant to Pecksniff. 

Ruth Pinch, his sister^ a governess. 

Pip, accomplice of Tigg's. 

Elijah Pogram, American, memher of Congress. 

Mrs. Betsey Prig, nurse. 

Zephaniah Scudder, American real estate agent. 

William Simmons, stage driver. 

Chevy Slyme, relation of Martin Chuzzlewit's. 

Spottletoe, relation of Martin Chuzzlewit's. 

Mrs. Spottletoe, his wife, 

Paul ("Poll") Sweedlepipe, harher and hird 
fancier. 

Tacker, clei'k to Mould. 

Mark Tapley, assistant at "Blue Dragon" Inn; 
then servant to Martin Chuzzlewit, Jr. 

Montague Tigg, alias Tigg Montague, an adven- 
turer and promoter. 



MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT 71 

Mrs. M. Todgers, proprietress of a London boarding- 
house. 

John Westlock, former piiinl to Pecksniff ; and 
friend to Tom Pinch. 

Wolf, accomplice of Tigg's. 

George Chuzzlewit and other members of that family ; 
Gander a ?if? other boarders at Todgers's ; employers 
of Ruth Pinch ; stage drivers, police officers ; 
various Americans. 



ARGUMENT 

Dickens began one of his prefaces to 
"Martin Chuzzlewit" with the remark, 
''My main object in this story was, to 
exhibit in a variety of aspects the com- 
monest of all the vices ; to show how self- 
ishness propagates itself; and to what a 
grim giant it may grow, from small begin- 
nings." Special stress is given to hypoc- 
risy in the person of Pecksniff; and the 
reverse pictures of simple-hearted service 
and kindness are afforded in Tom Pinch 
and Mark Tapley. The book likewise 
contains a side issue in the shape of sun- 
dry American scenes. 

Martin Chuzzlewit, Senior, is an ob- 
stinate, selfish, and suspicious old man, 
who comes of a grasping family, and who 
is hounded by relatives eager to inherit 
his wealth. He spurns them all except 
his grandson, Martin Chuzzlewit, Junior. 
73 



74 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

The old man has also befriended an orphan 
girl, Mary Graham, who is his faithful 
and devoted attendant, though told plainly 
that she need expect no bequest. The 
young Martin and Mary fall in love with 
each other, much to the grandfather's dis- 
taste, whose own plans are upset thereby. 
His grandson is no less obstinate and self- 
ish, so the two men quarrel and separate 
— Mary remaining with Martin Senior. 

The young man now falls into the 
clutches of a distant kinsman, Seth Peck- 
sniff, an " architect and surveyor," living 
near Salisbury in Wiltshire. * Pecksniff 
pretends to run a select school in these 
subjects ; but, like everything else with 
[ which he is connected, it is only pretence, 
' for he is a master of pious hypocrisy. 
Pecksniff receives the young man with 
open arms, thinking thus to placate the 
older one and perhaps provide a husband 
for one of his two daughters. Charity and 
Mercy. The only other inmate of this 
household, when Martin Junior enters it, 
is Tom Pinch, a kind-hearted fellow of 



MARTIN CflUZZLEWiT 75 

simple nature, who appears prematurely 
aged. Tom's one hallucination is in re- 
spect to Pecksniff, whom he regards as his 
benefactor, although that man was never 
known to do disinterested kindness to 
any one. 

Martin Junior's stay with Pecksniff is 
brief. The grandfather hears of his pres- 
ence there and asks that he be dismissed. 
Pecksniff, delighted to see this turn in 
affairs, loses no time in getting rid of his 
guest. The latter goes to America, being 
joined, on his departure, b}^ Mark Tapley, 
a jovial fellow who has been assistant at 
the Blue Dragon tavern in Wiltshire. 
Mark has conceived a great liking for the 
buxom landlady of this tavern, which lik- 
ing is reciprocated ; but he deems that his 
present mission is to seek trouble in order 
to come out strong on being jolly, as he 
whimsically expresses it. He voluntarily 
seeks service with the younger Martin. 

Arrived in America, they stop a short 
time in New York, where they obtain a 
queer idea of manners and customs from 



76 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

the people with whom they come in con- 
tact. They then hear of a Western town 
of Eden which is mapped as a flourishing 
community. Martin expends their joint 
slender hoard in the purchase of lots, in- 
tending to settle there as architect. A 
ride of several days upon a small steam- 
boat brings them to the place, and reveals 
it to be a swamp, whose few settlers are 
paying the penalty of existence there with 
their lives. 

Meanwhile in England, Pecksniff's 
affairs are apparently progressing. Mar- 
tin Senior seems to be falling under the 
influence of his oily tongue. Pecksniff 
takes his daughters to London on a visit. 
They stop at Mrs. Todgers's boarding- 
house, where the young men lodgers 
toast them royally. Their cousin, Jonas 
Chuzzlewit, also shows great interest in 
their welfare and has them dine with his 
father and himself. The father, Anthony 
Chuzzlewit, is a brother of the elder Mar- 
tin, though the two men have long been 
estranged. Anthony also has the family 



MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT 11 

trait of selfishness which is transmitted 
with interest to his son. In their case it 
takes the form of niggardliness and low 
cunning. Jonas becomes so grasping that 
he wishes for his father's death. The old 
man dies suddenly about this time, much 
to Jonas's terror, but later relief. Peck- 
sniff takes charge of the funeral. A short 
time afterward Jonas makes a proposal of 
marriage to one of the Misses Pecksniff; 
but contrary to the general expectation, he 
chooses Mercy the younger. 

In the second part of the narrative, 
Jonas becomes a director in the Anglo- 
Bengalee Disinterested Loan and Life 
Insurance Company, a wild-cat concern 
whose promoter, Tigg Montague, alias 
Montague Tigg, has been introduced in a 
lowlier guise earlier in the book. Jonas 
takes stock in the concern; and Tigg, in 
order to get Jonas wholly under his power, 
sets a spy at work on his past history. 
The spy later discovers facts of a doubtful 
character in connection with the death of 
Jonas's father; and these facts are held 



c 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



over Jonas's head with the effect of plac- 
ing him wholly at the mercy of Tigg. 

Jonas promises to inveigle Pecksniff 
into placing money in the concern. He 
and Tigg proceed to Wiltshire, and soon 
ensnare Pecksniff to the extent of his 
available funds. Jonas meanwhile has 
been plotting to murder Tigg in order, as 
he thinks, to suppress the damaging secret 
against himself. He waylays Tigg in a 
lonely wood and despatches him. 

This bloody deed, however, is preceded 
by other events of more or less importance. 
Pecksniff has apparently wormed his way 
into the good graces of Martin Senior, and 
the latter and Mary Graham are now liv- 
ing at his house. Mercy is married to 
Jonas, who mistreats her brutally; and 
Charity has gone to Mrs. Todgers's to 
live. Pecksniff therefore finds no appar- 
ent obstacle to a plan for keeping Martin 
under his influence. He pays court to 
Mary with intent to make her his wife. 
The defenceless girl appeals to Tom Pinch 
as her only friend. Tom's eyes are at last 



MABTIN CHUZZLEWIT 79 

opened to Pecksniff's baseness ; but the 
latter forestalls him by dismissing him 
from his service. 

Tom proceeds to London, and visits his 
old-time friend, John Westlock, a former 
pupil of Pecksniff's. John offers to share 
his own apartments with him ; but Tom 
sets up an establishment for himself and 
his sister Ruth, a trim little woman who 
has been a governess. Mysterious aid 
now comes to Tom in the shape of a post 
as small librarian, the owner of this library 
being unknown to him. 

In America the fortunes of the younger 
Martin and Mark Tapley reach their low- 
est ebb. Swamp-fever attacks them in 
the river settlement where they locate. 
Each in turn is brought to death's door, 
but recovers. They receive financial aid 
from an American friend, and return to 
England. The experience, however, has 
had one good result in Martin's case. It 
has revealed to him his own mistakes of 
self-interest, and he profits by the lesson. 
He goes to his grandfather and asks for- 



80 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

giveness, but Pecksniff interposes and 
prevents a reconciliation. The young 
man then returns to London, seeks out 
Tom Pinch, and through him and West- 
lock stumbles upon some dark secrets in 
Jonas's career. 

Old Martin also learns of the situation. 
Jonas is confronted with the charge of 
having poisoned his father. He clears 
himself by the narrowest margin, only to 
be seized for the more recent murder of 
Tigg. On his way to prison he poisons 
himself and dies. 

Old Martin is now revealed to be Tom 
Pinch's secret benefactor, and found to be 
not wholly given to selfishness. He uses 
Tom's library one morning as a general 
rendezvous for several people who are sur- 
prised to meet there : young Martin and 
Mary Graham ; Tom Pinch and his sister ; 
John Westlock ; Mark Tapley and the 
landlady of the Blue Dragon ; and finally 
Pecksniff. The latter's villany and boot- 
licking, long noted in secret by the older 
Martin, are brought to light, and he re- 



MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT 81 

ceives punishment both corporal and men- 
tal at his hands. This aged man now 
proves fairy godfather to all others pres- 
ent. Young Martin is forgiven, and pre- 
sented with the hand of Mary. John 
Westlock is put in the way of winning 
Ruth Pinch. Mark Tapley and the land- 
lady join hands. And Tom Pinch, the 
lover of all, and beloved by all, remains 
with old Martin the good genius of the 
group. Tom's one secret sorrow, a love 
for Mary, is tempered by succeeding years 
of serenity, full of music, awakened by 
his own hands on his beloved instrument, 
the organ. 

Pecksniff sinks into the obscurity of a 
begging letter-writer. Mercy is cared for 
by old Martin. Charity all but inveigles 
a young boarder at Todgers's into mar- 
riage, but is herself deceived. Other char- 
acters of importance, not previously 
mentioned, are Chuff ey, the pathetic, anti- 
quated clerk rescued from Jonas's clutches; 
Bailey, the remarkable boy first met at 
Todgers's; "Poll" Sweedlepipe, the bar- 



82 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

ber ; Betsey Prig, type of the early rough 
hospital nurse ; and last but not least her 
friend '' Sairey " Gamp, the midwife and 
nurse whose garrulity and belief in an 
imaginary Mrs. Harris — to say nothing of 
other traits — have developed her into a 
fixed type in literature. 



DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM OF 

DOMBEY AND SON 

Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation 

Seventh novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 

from October, 1846, to April, 1848 ; 

published in book form in April, 1848. 

Scene : London, Brighton, France. 

Time : circa 1830-1846. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Major Joseph Bagstock, retired. 
Baps, dancing-master. 
Mrs. Baps, his wife. 
Miss Berry, niece to Mrs. Pipchin. 
BiTHERSTONE, hoarder at Mrs. Pipchin's. 
Doctor Blimber, head of a select school for hoys. 
Mrs. Blimber, his wife. 
Cornelia Blimber, his daughter. 
Mrs. Blockitt, nurse. 
Briggs, student at Doctor Blimber's. 
Brogley, broker. 
Mrs. Brown, aged street woman. 
Alice (Marwood) Brown, her daughter. 
Captain John Bunsby, seaman. 
James Carker, manager for Dombey and Son. 
John Carker, his brother., a junior with the firm. 
Harriet Carker, their sister. 
John Chick, husband to Mrs. Chick. 
Mrs. Louisa Chick, sister to Dombey. 
Clark, in charge of wharf shipments for Dombey. 
'Captain Edward Cuttle, retired seaman. 
Paul Dombey, Sr., head of Dombey and Son. 
Mrs. Dombey, his wife. 
Florence Dombey, his daughter. 
Paul Dombey, Jr., his son. 
85 



86 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Mrs. Edith Dombey, second wife to Dombey, for- 
merly Mrs. Edith Granger. 

Fkeder, B. a., instructor at Doctor Blimber's. 

Rev. Alfred Feeder, his brother. 

Cousin Feenix, relative of Mrs. Skewton. 

Game Chicken, pugilist. 

Walter Gay, employee of Dombey and Son. 

Solomon Gills, ships^ instrument maker. 

Old Glubb, sailor. 

Mrs. Edith Granger, see Mrs. Edith Dombey. 

Rev. Melchisedech Howler. 

Jemima, Mrs. Toodle's sister. 

Johnson, stiident at Doctor Blimber's. 

Mrs. MacStinger, an admirer of seamen. 

Alexander MacStinger, her son. 

Juliana MacStinger, her daughter. 

Mrs. Miff, pew-opener. 

MoRFiN, with Dombey and Son. 

Susan Nipper, maid to Florence Dombey. 

Miss Pankey, hoarder at Mrs. Pipchin's. 

Sir Parker Peps, court physician. 

Perch, messenger for Dombey and Son. 

Mrs. Perch, his wife. 

Doctor Pilkins, practitioner. 

Mrs. Pipchin, keeper of Brighton hoarding-house^ 
then housekeeper for Dombey. 

Sir Barnet Skettles, member.. House of Commons. 

Lady Skettles, his ivife. 

Master Skettles, his son. 

Mrs. Skewton, mother to Edith Granger. 

SowNDs, beadle. 

Toodlb, stoker. 



BOMBEY AND SON 87 

Mrs. Polly Toodle, his wife, nurse to Paul Dombey. 

Robin Toodle, his son. 

P. Toots, admirer of Florence Dombey. 

TowLiNSON, butler to Dombey. 

TozER, student at Doctor Blimber's. 

LucRETiA Tox, admirer of Dombey. 

Mrs. Wick am, second nurse to Paul Dombey. 



ARGUMENT 

The humbling of pride and the awaken- 
ing of parental love are the subjects dealt 
with in " Dombey and Son." 

Paul Dombey, Senior, is about forty- 
eight years of age when the book opens ; 
his son Paul is about as many minutes 
old. Dombey Senior is arrogant, haughty, 
and totally engrossed iii the affairs of his 
large mercantile house in London. The 
arrival of a son and heir is therefore par- 
ticularly welcome to him — so much so, 
that he does not grieve deeply because of 
the loss of his wife at this time. 

The motherless boy grows slowly into 
puny childhood with no companion except 
his sister Florence, a few years his senior. 
The little girl has been totally neglected 
by her father ; and, now that her mother 
is dead, lavishes all her pent-up love on 
her brother. She does indeed make timid 
89 



90 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

overtures to her father, but he repulses 
her. His love, clumsy as it is in ex- 
pression, is centred on his son who makes 
the joint firm of '' Dombey and Son " 
possible. 

In this environment grows tlie gentle- 
hearted little Paul, demure and thoughtful 
far beyond his years, and a devoted com- 
rade of his sister. But he does not gain 
in strength, so is sent to Mrs. Pipchin's 
house at the seaside. When he is six 
years old his father's eagerness to have 
him grow up leads to his being placed in 
Doctor Blimber's select school, where his 
frail spirit is doubly oppressed by confine- 
ment over books and separation from his 
sister, whose great influence over Paul 
has not been agreeable to the father. The 
forcing process in vogue at Doctor Blim- 
ber's does not make the man of Paul that 
his father desires ; instead the boy sinks 
under the strain, and in a few months 
breathes his last. 

The death of Paul results in the still 
wider estrangement of Florence and her 



BOMBEY AND SON 91 

father. Another incident has happened in 
her life which, also, is to have effect upon 
her later years. Becoming lost one day 
in London, she is brought home by young- 
Walter Gay, an employee of Dombey's 
house. Walter lives with his uncle, Solo- 
mon Gills, a ships' instrument maker, at 
the sign of the Wooden Midshipman, and 
is greatly admired by both his uncle and 
their best friend. Captain Edward Cattle, 
the one-handed seaman, retired. Hence- 
forth Walter is to have another devoted 
adherent in Florence. But he gains at 
the same time an insidious enemy in the 
person of James Carker, manager for 
Dombey, who prevails on the latter to 
send Walter on a long sea voyage. 

After many months devoid of tidings of 
Walter, his heart-broken uncle goes quietly 
away to hunt for him, leaving Captain 
Cuttle in disconsolate charge of the 
Midshipman. 

Major Joseph Bagstock, otherwise known 
to himself as Joey B., Old Joe, etc., takes 
a lively interest in Dombey's affairs at 



92 i)icke:ns synopses 

this time, and introduces him to Edith 
Granger, who is persuaded by her fortune- 
hunting mother to become the second Mrs. 
Dombey. Volume I closes with prepara- 
tions for the wedding. 

It is not long after the wedding until 
unhappiness begins for this ill-assorted 
pair ; for Mr. Dombey knows no will but 
his own and is not troubled with delicacy 
or sentiment; while Mrs. Dombey is no 
less haughty in her own way and quite as 
independent of spirit. She is, however, 
refined and sensitive, and quickly discovers 
the good qualities of the neglected Flor- 
ence, whose affection and allegiance are 
easily won. But once more Dombey is 
displeased with what he terms his daugh- 
ter's interference, and his heart becomes 
steeled against both daughter and wife. 

He adopts the course of sending Carker, 
his manager, to Mrs. Dombey armed with 
his domestic reproofs, knowing that this 
course will be most galling to Edith's 
pride. At last she is goaded to revenge, 
and chooses to elope with Carker — whom 



BOMBEY AND SON 93 

she detests — in order to humiliate her hus- 
band. This she apparently does, though 
she does not live with Carker. The latter 
follows her to P^^ance, but is spurned, and re- 
turns to England to elude Dombey who is 
in pursuit. In an encounter with Dombey 
the rascally manager's life ends, by acci- 
dent, under the wheels of a railway train. 

Upon the flight of Mrs. Dombey, Flor- 
ence, now a young woman of seventeen, is 
left once more alone. She goes to her 
father to comfort him in this blow to his 
pride, when he in a frenzy of passion 
strikes her to the floor, bidding her fol- 
low Edith, since they had always been in 
league. 

Florence flees from her father's house, 
which she can call home no longer. She 
can think of only one refuge, and that is 
the home of Walter's uncle, Solomon Gills. 
But Gills had previously disappeared in 
search of Walter ; and Florence finds only 
Captain Cuttle who, however, receives her 
and cares for her as tenderly as a kinsman. 

Shortly afterward, Walter unexpectedly 



94 mCKEJSiS SYNOPSES 

returns, to the great delight of Florence 
and the captain. The two young people 
confess a mutual passion, which has in- 
fluenced each since childhood, and resolve 
to Aved before Walter's next voyage. The 
happiness of all the group is heightened 
by the arrival of the wanderer, Gills ; and 
a merry little party witnesses the wedding 
of the lovers, who shortly embark on a 
long voyage, leaving only one rueful face 
among their friends — that of Toots, a 
long-time wooer of Florence. 

One year later the trading world is 
shocked by news of the failure of Dombey 
and Son. Dombey had plunged reck- 
lessly into ventures after the flight of his 
wife and daughter, seeking to find relief 
in business activity and accepting advice 
from no quarter. His house becomes 
bankrupt, and he himself is nearly insane 
through brooding over his troubles. In 
this extremity of misery and humiliation, 
his spurned daughter Florence returns to 
him, and at last wins his love and trust. 
She persuades him to live with her and 



DOMBEY AND SON 95 

Walter, now settled iu a comfortable little 
home. There he ends his days in peace 
and affection, devoting himself to his two 
grandchildren, Paul and Florence, but 
showing his tenderest side to the little 
girl. 



THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF 
DAVID COPPERFIELD 

Eighth novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 

from May, 1849, to November, 1850 ; 

published in book form, November, 1850. 

Scene : Blunderstone, London, Yarmouth, Dover, 
and other points in England and the Continent. 

Time: 1812-1842. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

KicHARD Babley (" Mr. Dick "), simple-minded pro- 
tege of Betsey Trotwood. 

Barkis, stage driver^ who is "willin'." 

Chillip, medical practitioner. 

Mrs. Clara Copperfield, afterward Mrs. Murd- 
stone. 

David Copperfield, her son, the supposed narrator 
of this "History." 

Mrs. Dora Copperfield, nee Spenlow, his Jirst 
wife. 

Mrs. Agnes Copperfield, nee Wickfield, his sec- 
ond wife. 

Creakle, schoolmaster at Salem House. 

Mrs. Creakle, his wife. 

Miss Creakle, his daughter. 

Mrs. Crupp, landlady to Copperfield in London. 

Rosa Dartle, companion to Mrs. Steerforth. 

"Mr. Dick," see Richard Babley. 

"Little Em'ly," niece to Peggotty. 

Martha Endell, an abandoned woman. 

Mrs. Gummidge, a widowed inmate of Peggotty's 
home. 

Uriah Heep, clerk and partner of Wickfield. 

Mrs. Heep, his " 'umble mother." 

Janet, maid to Betsey Trotwood. 

JoRAM, of Omer and Joram, undertakers. 
99 



100 DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Mrs. Minnie Joram, Jiis wife. 

JoRKiNS, of Spenlow and Jorkins, attorneys. 

LiTTiMER, valet to Steerforth. 

Jack Maldon, cousin to Mrs. Strong. 

Mrs. Markleham, t?ie " Old Soldier," mother to Mrs. 
Strong. 

Mell, teacher at Creakle's school. 

WiLKiNS Micawber, onc who toaits for something to 
turn up. 

Mrs. Emma Micawber, his sanguine wife. 

Emma Micawber, his daughter. 

WiLKiNS Micawber, Jr., his son. 

The Micawber "Twins" and Baby. 

Julia Mills, friend to Dora Spenlow. 

Miss Mowciier, a dwarf hairdresser. 

Edward Murdstone, wine-dealer., stepfather to David 
Copperfield. 

Mrs. Murdstone, his loife, formerly Mrs. Clara Cop- 
perfield. 

Jane Murdstone, his sister. 

Omer, of Omer and Joram, undertakers. 

Clara Peggotty, nurse to David Copperfield, and 
afterward Mrs. Barkis. 

Dan Peggotty, her brother, a fisherman. 

Ham Peggotty, their nephew. 

QuiNiON, manager for Murdstone and Grinby, wine- 
dealers. 

Sharp, head-master at Creakle's school. 

Francis Spenlow, 0/ Spenlow and Jorkins, attorneys. 

Miss Dora Spenlow, his daughter, afterward Mrs. 
Copperfield. 

Clarissa Spenlow, aunt to Dora Spenlow. 



DAVID COPPERFIELD 101 

Lavima Spenlow, aunt to Dora Spenlow, 
Mrs. Steerforth, mother to James Steerforth. 
James Steerforth, schoolmate of David Copperfield. 
Doctor Strong, schoolmaster at Dover. 
Mrs. Annie Strong, his wife. 
TiFFEY, clerk in office of Spenlow and Jorkins. 
Thomas Traddles, schoolmate of David Copperfield. 
Mrs. Sophy Traddles, nee Crewler, his wife. 
Betsey Trotwood, great-aunt to David Copperfield. 
TuNGAY, one-legged guard at Creakle's school. 
WicKFiELD, attorney at Dover. 

Agnes Wickfield, his daughter.^ afterward Mrs. Cop- 
perfield. 

Captain Hopkins, and family ; Miss Shepherd, Miss 
Larkins, Chestle, Clickett, Passnidge, Markham, 
Grainger, the Misses Crewler, landlords, waiters, 
and seamen. 



ARGUMENT 

"The Personal History of David Cop- 
perfield " is in many respects the personal 
history of Charles Dickens. The author 
was fond of putting himself and his ac- 
quaintances into his books, and he has 
indulged the fondness freely in " David 
Copperfield." The story has long been 
regarded as autobiographical in not a few 
scenes and descriptions. It is this touch, 
perhaps most of all, this feeling of genuine 
sympathy with real happenings, which has 
given the book its permanent and just 
hold upon the hearts of his readers. 

The opening chapter describes the cir- 
cumstances attending the hero's birth. 
He is a posthumous child, his father being 
dead six months. On the night he is 
born, the Copperfield household is per- 
turbed by the sudden visit of Miss Betsey 
Trotwood, an eccentric great-aunt of the 
new infant's. Miss Betsey departs as 
103 



104 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

suddenly as she has come, and in high 
dudgeon, when she learns that the child 
is a boy instead of a girl who could bear 
Miss Betsey's name. 

The child's first nurse, and one who is 
to remain devoted to him in later years, is 
Clara Peggotty — known always as plain 
Peggotty. She and Mrs. Copperfield 
spend many happy hours with the boy un- 
til in an evil day, when he is old enough 
to read and notice things for himself, he 
finds a dark gentleman paying court to 
his mother. The dark man, Mr. Murd- 
stone, is successful in his suit ; and David 
is spared the pain of witnessing the mar- 
riage by being taken to Peggotty's brother's 
home at Yarmouth. He there meets the 
brother, Dan Peggotty, a rough but true- 
hearted fisherman, his niece, Little Em'ly, 
Mrs. Gummidge, a widow, and renews 
acquaintance with a nephew. Ham Peg- 
gotty, a great overgrown boy. These 
people live in quaint but comfortable fash- 
ion in a house improvised from an over- 
turned boat. They take a great liking to 



DAVID COPPERFIELD 105 

the small David, and he to them. He 
makes a sweetheart of Little Em'ly. 

On his return home he learns of his 
mother's marriage. The home is changed 
from a place of joy to a gloomy prison. 
His stepfather, a stern, forbidding man 
who preaches firmness, has no love for the 
boy, but treats him harshly. His mother 
is powerless to protect him, as her pliant 
will is dominated by that of her husband, 
who is reenforced by a no less stern spinster 
sister, Jane Murdstone. 

When David is about nine years old 
he is sent away to boarding-school, Salem 
House, kept by a brutal taskmaster, 
Creakle, who systematically maltreats his 
pupils. David's life is not altogether un- 
liappy, however, as he makes several friends 
among his mates, two especial ones being 
James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles. 
Steerforth is the head-boy, and his easy 
patronage of David wins the lad's thorough 
affection. After a few months, David's 
schooling is cut short by his mother's death. 
Peggotty takes him on another visit to 



106 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Yarmouth, and he meanwhile aids the 
peculiar courtship of Barkis, a stage driver 
who " is willin' " to marry Peggotty and 
who finally succeeds in doing so. 

David's stepfather now puts him out as 
a chore boy in a bottling establishment, 
where the lad receives a bare living wage, 
and is left without friends or counsel. 
He is lodged by Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, 
a sanguine but impecunious couple who 
show him kindness in their own singular 
way. Micawber, however, is waiting for 
"something to turn up," so makes use of 
David rather than aids him. Neverthe- 
less, a strong friendship grows up between 
them. 

The boy's position at the bottling house 
grows so intolerable that he runs away, 
and takes refuge with his great-aunt, 
Betsey Trotwood, who shelters him, and 
relieves the Murdstones of further connec- 
tion with his affairs. Another of her pro- 
teges is a simple-minded man called Mr. 
Dick, whose chief occupation is to fly 
large kites and write Memorials of King 



DAVID COPPERFIELD 107 

Charles the First. Miss Betsey places 
David in a school of the right sort, that of 
Dr. Strong at Dover, and the boy lives at 
the pleasant home of an attorney, Wick- 
field, whose daughter Agnes, about David's 
own age, comes to be regarded by him as 
tenderly as a sister. The attorney's clerk, 
Uriah Heep, is noted for his fawning 
ways, his " 'umbleness," and his cold, 
clammy hands, but through his and his 
mother's servility he gradually gains an 
evil control over Wickfield's business. 

After Copperfield completes his school- 
ing, he spends a short vacation with the 
Peggottys at the seashore. He is accom- 
panied by Steerforth whom he has acci- 
dentally met. Both the young men greatly 
admire Little Em'ly, who has grown to be 
a pretty woman and is engaged to marry 
Ham, and unknown to Copperfield, who 
has an abiding love for Steerforth, the 
latter lays plans to entrap Em'ly into 
eloping with him. 

David Copperfield chooses law as his 
profession, and his aunt establishes him 



108 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

with Spenlow and Jorkins in London, and 
leases some bachelor apartments for him. 
David's impressionable heart meanwliile 
has received a series of shocks on account 
of various members of the fairer sex ; and 
finally gets the worst shock of all when 
he meets Spenlow's daughter Dora. She 
is chaperoned by the terrible Miss Murd- 
stone of David's youth, yet the two young 
people find opportunities to cultivate each 
other's acquaintance. 

The beginning of the second book of 
David Copperfield's " History " is marked 
by gloom. Peggotty's husband Barkis 
dies while David is visiting at Yarmouth, 
and Steerforth finally succeeds in persuad- 
ing Little Em'ly to go abroad secretly with 
him. The deluded girl hopes to induce 
him to marry her and thus make her "a 
lady." The despair in the Peggotty home 
is intense. Em'ly's uncle sets out in 
search of her. The finances of David's 
Aunt Betsey also come to a bad state at 
this juncture, and he is thrown upon his 
own resources. He obtains a position as 



DAVID COPPERFIELD 109 

secretary to Dr. Strong, his former school- 
master, and occupies his odd hours in the 
study of shorthand, being assisted by his 
old friend, Tommy Traddles, who at one 
time had lodged with the Micawbers, and 
is now aspiring to the practice of law. 
David finally masters shorthand and ob- 
tains a position as Parliamentary reporter ; 
but meanwhile his dejection at the un- 
happy turn of affairs is increased by the 
shadow hovering over Agnes and her 
father, who have fallen into the clutches 
of the rascally Heep, and by the refusal of 
Dora's father to consider David's court- 
ship. But Spenlow dies suddenly, and 
the two young people who have been 
secretly engaged for some time now marry. 
David is turned twenty-one. 

While their wedded life is happy, David 
does not find a helpmate in his "child- 
wife." She does not pretend to house- 
keeping ability, but finds her dog Jip 
more engrossing. David meanwhile be- 
gins to attain distinction as an author. 
Certain magazine pieces are successful 



110 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

and lie begins his first book. After he 
has been married a year or two, he and 
Mr. Peggotty hear news of Em'ly and 
succeed in rescuing her. The Peggottys 
determine to emigrate to Australia. 

At this point comes a crisis in the affairs 
of Agnes, her father, and Heep. The 
latter has let Micawber into the secret of 
his plots, and Micawber exposes him. 
Uriah is brought to bay, and made to dis- 
gorge his gains, including Betsey Trot- 
wood's property. Agnes and her father 
are freed from their enemy. The Micaw- 
bers are advanced enough money to allow 
them to emigrate to Australia, where some- 
thing finally "turns up." They go with 
Dan Peggotty and his niece. Her be- 
trayer, Steerforth, is driven ashore at this 
time by a storm at sea, and Ham loses 
his own life in the vain effort to rescue 
him. 

Copperfield's sorrow on account of his 
friends' distresses is heightened by personal 
loss. His child-wife gradually fades away. 
After her death he travels for three years 



BAVID COPPERFIELD 111 

in foreign lands, seeking rest from his load 
of grief. He finds it at last in renewed 
literary work which brings him fame, and 
in the thought of Agnes, his life-long in- 
spiration. He discovers at last that his 
strongest love is and has been for her, and 
they become united. 

Of the other characters, not already out- 
lined, the emigrants meet with success in 
Australia ; Miss Betsey and Peggotty live 
to a ripe old age; Traddles rises in his 
profession and marries happily, though he 
comes near to adopting his wife's whole 
family; and poor Mr. Dick is found a 
highly valuable man on several occasions, 
most of all when he aids in reconciling' 
Dr. Strong with his young wife, Annie. 



BLEAK HOUSE 

Ninth novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 

from March, 1852, to September, 1853; 

published in book form, September, 1853. 

Scene : London, Lincolnshire, and Herefordshire. 

Time: 1832-1852. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Augusta, maid-sei'vant to the Snagsbys. 

Bayham Badger, surgeon at Chelsea. 

Mrs. Laura Badger, his wife. 

Matthew ("Joseph") Bagnet, retired soldier. 

Mrs. Bagnet, his wife., the "old girl," 

Malta, Quebec, and Woolwich Bagnet, his chiU 
dren. 

Bagsby, tavern keeper. 

Miss Barbary, aunt and godmother of Esther Sum- 
rnerson. 

Mrs. Blinder, landlady in Chancery Lane. 

Lawrence Boythorn, friend to Jarndyce. 

Bucket, inspector in detective service. 

Richard Carstone, ward of Jarndyce. 

Chadband, a pious clergyman. 

Mrs. Chadb AND, /onnerZi/ Mrs. Rachael, his wife. 

Ada 'Clare, Richard Carstone's cousin and afterward 
wife; ward 0/ Jarndyce. 

Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet of Chesney Wold. 

Lady Honoria Dedlock, his wife. 

Volumnia Dedlock, his cousin. 

The Misses Donny, in charge of small hoarding 
school for girls. 

Miss Flite, crazy attendant tqwn Chancery. 

William Guppy, clerk at law firm of Kenge and Car- 
boy. 

115 



116 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Mrs. Guppy, his mother. 

Gusher, a man with a Mission. 

Gridley, an attendant upon Chancery. 

W. GrubbivE, tavern keeper. 

Captain Hawdon ("Kemo"), unknown copyist in 
Chancery Lane. 

HoRTENSE, French maid to Lady Dedlock. 

John Jarndyce, of Bleak House, guardian of Esther 
Summerson, Ada Clare, and Richard Carstone. 

Jellyby, ^'husband of Mrs. Jellyby." 

Mrs. Jellyby, a woman with a 3Iission. 

Caroline (" Caddy ") Jellyby, Ji is daughter ; after- 
ward Mrs. Prince Turveydrop. 

" Peepy " and other Jellyby children. 

"Jenny," "Liz," and their Husbands, poor tenants 
and brickmakers of Herefordshire. 

Jo, street-sweeper. 

Tony Jobling, friend to Guppy. 

Kenge, attorney, of Kenge and Carboy. 

Krook, dealer in rags and bottles. 

The Lord High Chancellor. 

Neckett, bailiff and collector. 

Charlotte Neckett, knovm as " Charley," his 
daughter, maid to Esther Summerson. 

Tom and Emma Neckett, his children. 

Mrs. Pardiggle, a woman V)ith a Mission. 

Egbert, Oswold, Francis, Felix, and Alfred Par- 
diggle, her children. 

Quale, a man with a Mission. 

Rosa, maid to Lady Dedlock. 

Mrs. Rouncewell, housekeeper to the Dedlocks. 

Rouncewell, her elder son, an ironmaster. 



BLEAK HOUSE 117 



Watt Kouncewell, his son. 

George Rouncewell, ilfrs. EounceweWs younger son, 
known as " Mr. George" of the shooting-gallery. 

Harold Skimpole, a " child " in experience., to ichom 
the world owes a living. 

Mrs. Skimpole, his wife. 

Arethusa, Laura, and Kitty Skimpole, his daugh- 
ters. 

Joshua ("Grandfather") Smallweed, money- 
lender. 

Mrs. Smallweed, his wife. 

Judith ("Judy") Smallweed, his granddaughter. 

Bartholomew (" Bart " or "Chick ") Smallweed, 
his grandson. 

Snagsby, stationer at Cook's Court. 

Mrs. Snagsby, his wife, of the Chadband |)ersw«siOJi. 

" Phil " Squod, assistant a« George's shooting-gallery. 

"Bob" Stables, .sporting kinsman of Dedlock's. 

Esther Summerson, natural daughter to Captain 
Hawdon and Lady Dedlock ; loard 0/ Jarndyce. 

"Little " Swills, a vocalist of Chancery Lane. 

Tangle, lawyer in Chancery. 

Tulkinghorn, lawyer to Dedlock, 

TuRVEYDROP, a gentleman of deportment. 

Prince Turveydrop, his son, a dancing -master. 

Vholes, lawyer to Carstone. 

Allan Woodcourt, a surgeon. 

Mrs. Woodcourt, his mother. 

Doodle, Foodie, and other adherents of Dedlock ; 
court officers, reporters, coroner, beadle, police- 
men ; "Mercury," the footman, and others. 



ARGUMENT 

Two dark threads are interwoven to 
form the plot of " Bleak House." The first 
is a story of public wrong — the delays of 
the English Court of Chancery. The 
second is a story of private wrong — the 
sin of a woman and her lover. These two 
wrongs singly or collectively cast shadows 
over a great variety of people from a 
street-sweeper to a baronet ; but gleaming 
here and there in the shadows are the sun- 
lit rays of pleasant romance. 

During many terms of the Court of 
Chancery in London a suit over a con- 
tested will has come up for decision, but 
met with so little progress that it has 
come to be a jest among the legal profes- 
sion. " Jarndyce and Jarndyce has passed 
into a joke. That is tlie only good that 
has ever come of it." It has been death 
to many, meanwhile, and the heart-sick 
118 



120 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

principals would gladly compromise it if 
they could ; but it is not to be got out of, 
or through, Chancery. One of the last 
principals, Tom Jarndyce, committed sui- 
cide. His kinsman, John Jarndyce of 
Bleak House, will have nothing to do with 
the suit. However, he takes to his home 
as his wards two other parties to the suit, 
Richard Carstone and Ada Clare — rela- 
tives not yet come of age. In order to 
provide a companion for Ada, he also be- 
comes the guardian of Esther Summerson, 
a young woman near Ada's age, and the 
narrator in part of a story which hence- 
forth fluctuates between personal and 
impersonal. 

Esther begins her narrative with her 
earliest years, which were passed with a 
stern but not unkind godmother who dies 
when the girl is in her "teens." This 
godmother. Miss Barbary, proves to be 
Esther's aunt, but will not claim her, since 
-the child is illegitimate. Esther is placed 
in a small boarding school, Miss Donny's, 
at Greenleaf. Here she remains for six 



BLEAK HOUSE 121 

years, and being now grown assists by 
tutoring. It is at this juncture that she 
is invited to become one of the inmates 
of Bleak House, Herefordshire, and meets 
John Jarndyce, a staid, benevolent gentle- 
man past middle life, and his two wards. 
The two girls become devoted comrades 
from the first. Esther is installed as 
housekeeper. Ada and Richard speedily 
fall in love with each other, a course which 
meets the approval of their guardian. 
Jarndyce, however, does not allow the 
match to proceed any farther, until the 
lovers come of age, and Richard has be- 
come established in life. But Richard is 
a ne'er-do-well. He pins his faith upon 
the ancient lawsuit, instead of working 
earnestly in a profession. He studies 
medicine for a time, and laAv for a time. 
Finally he enters the army. 

Esther proves herself a born house- 
keeper, and also possesses the faculty of 
winning general affection. Indeed, she 
has one laughable proposal of marriage 
from a young law clerk named Guppy. 



122 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Meanwhile life at Bleak House passes 
quietly and pleasantly. Esther makes 
several acquaintances in London and the 
country, among whom must be mentioned : 
little Miss Flite, a crazy woman attending 
Chancery in the hope that her own hope- 
less suit will be decided ; Mrs. Jellyby, a 
woman so intent on her Mission of colo- 
nising a part of Africa that she allows her 
own home-keeping to take care of itself ; 
" Caddy " Jellyby, her daughter, of the 
inky fingers, who has had little home train- 
ing ; Mrs. Pardiggle, another woman with 
a Mission ; Harold Skimpole, a trifler with 
existence, who wishes to avoid all respon- 
sibility and have other people pay his 
debts ; Lawrence Boythorn, a blustering 
comrade of Jarndyce's ; and Allan Wood- 
court, a young surgeon about whom Esther 
has little to say at present. 

Boy thorn's neighbours in Lincolnshire 
are Sir Leicester Dedlock and his lady, 
whose country-seat is Chesney Wold. 
Sir Leicester — as we are informed early 
in the book — is a ceremonious gentleman 



BLEAK HOUSE 123 

nearly seventy years old. Lady Dedlock 
is a beautiful woman some twenty years 
his junior, wliom he married for love, and 
who previously had no family position. 
They live together pleasantly, and Lady 
Dedlock soon becomes one of the proudest 
ornaments of aristocratic society. Never- 
theless, she is cold and reserved, giving 
the impression of being always on her 
guard. This habitual attitude of hers 
arouses the suspicions of Tulkinghorn, the 
family solicitor, who begins to hunt for 
skeletons in the closet. He begins with 
clews seemingly slight in themselves, but 
uses them to harass her Ladyship. She 
has heard of an unknown legal copyist 
who lives over a rag and bottle shop run 
by an old man named Krook. This copy- 
ist dies suddenly, and after his burial Lady 
Dedlock gets Jo, a poor street sweeper, to 
point out the gate of the cemetery. These 
incidents are discovered by Tulkinghorn, 
who interrogates Jo and others who may 
know anything about the mysterious dead 
man, among them Snagsby, a well-mean- 



124 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

ing but hen-pecked stationer, and " Mr. 
George," the proprietor of a shooting-gal- 
lery. Mr. George, it develops, was orderly, 
in the army, to the man, then known as 
Captain Hawdon. Not to anticipate the 
story appreciably at this point, Tulking- 
horn gradually learns that Lady Dedlock, 
before her marriage, had a secret love- 
affair with this Captain Hawdon, and gave 
birth to a child by him, the child growing 
up as Esther Summerson. No one besides 
Tulkinghorn now knows this story, al- 
though Esther's former suitor Guppy 
nearly unearths it through some papers 
left at Krook's rag shop. Guppy ac- 
quaints Lady Dedlock with the existence 
of the papers, and she realises both the 
imminence of her peril and the fact that 
Esther is her daughter, this fact having 
been concealed even from her. 

Little Jo, the sweeper, is so harried by 
Tulkinghorn's agents that he leaves Lon- 
don and is sheltered over night at Bleak 
House, where he has the misfortune to 
leave small-pox germs. Esther's maid. 



BLEAK HOUSE 125 

" Charley," and Esther herself are seized 
by the disease, but recover — Esther to 
find her face greatly altered and her beauty 
gone. When she becomes convalescent 
she visits at Boythorn's home, and pri- 
vately meets near there with Lady Ded- 
lock, who avows her for daughter and 
prays her forgiveness. 

Meanwhile affairs are not going well with 
Esther's cousin, Richard Carstone. He 
sells his commission in the army to avoid 
disgrace, and comes to London to watch 
the ill-fated lawsuit. Here he falls into 
the clutches of a trickster lawyer, Vholes, 
who fleeces him ; but he finds one friend 
in Allan Woodcourt the surgeon, lately 
returned from abroad. Between Wood- 
court and Esther an unconfessed attach- 
ment has arisen, and it is at her bidding 
that he looks after the welfare of Richard. 
Ada also comes as Richard's good angel. 
She marries him secretly and devotes her 
property to the cause he has so blindl}^ 
followed in Chancery. Esther does not 
allow her own love-affair to proceed, on 



126 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

account of receiving a proposal from none 
other than her guardian himself — a man 
who has been so continually good to her 
that her grateful heart cannot find it 
possible to refuse him. She therefore 
stifles her strongest feelings and accepts 
Jarudyce. 

Lady Dedlock's affairs approach a crisis. 
Tulkinghorn has completed his case, and 
threatens her with disclosure. The night 
after his threat he is shot through the 
heart. Lady Dedlock is suspected, as is 
also George of the shooting-gallery. The 
latter is cleared; but when the lady is 
anonymously charged with the crime, and 
finds, moreover, that the story of her 
former life has reached Sir Leicester's ears, 
she flees secretly from her home. The 
detective in charge of the case. Bucket, 
persuades Esther to help him seek her, 
and assure her of her husband's full for- 
giveness. They trace her for twenty-four 
hours in a snowstorm, only to find her 
at last lying dead before the gate to her 
lover's burial ground. As for the murder, 



BLEAK HOUSE 127 

it is cleverly traced to Mademoiselle Hor- 
tense, a former maid to Lady Dedlock 
who held a grudge against both the lady 
and the murdered man. George, the other 
suspect, now turns out to be the long-lost 
son of Mrs. Rouncewell, housekeeper to the 
Dedlocks. 

Esther becomes ill because of her recent 
trials, but recovers and makes preparations 
for her wedding to her guardian, who has 
been made acquainted with her past his- 
tory. He, however, has quietly altered 
his plans — not on this account, but be- 
cause he discovers the love existing be- 
tween Esther and Woodcourt. Instead 
of marrying her, Jarndyce generously be- 
stows her hand upon the surgeon and 
gives her a home for dowry. 

Only one further shadow falls across Es- 
ther's life. The lawsuit is ended at last, 
but the costs have eaten up the proceeds 
of the will. Richard and Ada are ren- 
dered penniless, and the overstrained man 
succumbs from the shock. The young 
widow with her boy are henceforth sheb 



128 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

tered at Bleak House, and the child finds 
a second mother in Esther. 

Several of the many minor figures in 
this complicated novel have already been 
mentioned. Others also are so clear cut 
as to require notice : Turveydrop, the 
model of deportment ; his son Prince, who 
runs a dancing school and marries Caddy 
Jellyby ; Grandfather Smallweed, the 
money-lender, and his uninviting family; 
the pious Chadband, whose name has be- 
come associated with a certain kind of 
rambling sermonising ; and Phil Squod, 
the protege of Mr. George. But the clear- 
est of these figures is the pathetic one of 
poor Jo, perpetually told to " move on," 
and realising that he "don't know no- 
think " to the end of his miserable life. 



HAKD TIMES 

Tenth novel ; 

appeared in Household Words, April to August, 1854 ; 

published in book form, August, 1854. 

Scene : " Coketown," an inland manufacturing town 
of England and vicinity. 

Time : circa 1850. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

BiTZER, porter at Bounderby's Bank. 

Stephen Blackpool, " Hand" in Bounderby's Mill. 

Mrs. Blackpool, his wife^ an outcast. 

JosiAH BouNDERBY, " o/Coketown," a self-made man. 

Mrs. Louisa Bounderby, nee Gradgrind, his wife. 

E. W. B. Childers, performer in Sleary's Circus. 

Thomas Gradgrind, a man of " Facts.'''' 

Mrs. Gradgrind, his wife. 

Louisa Gradgrind, his daughter., afterward Mrs. 

Bounderby. 
Thomas Gradgrind, his son, the "Whelp," 
Adam SxMIth, Malthus, and Jane, other children of 

Thomas Gradgrind. 
James Harthouse, a dilettante adventurer. 
Cecilia Jupe, " Sissy," a child of the circus. 
Kidderminster, performer in Sleary's Circus. 
M'Choakumchild, schoolmaster. 
Mrs. Pegler, mother to Bounderby. 
Rachael, employee in Bounderby's Mill. 
Slackbridge, walking delegate. 
Sleary, proprietor of a circus. 
Josephine Sleary, his daughter. 
Mrs. Sparsit, "a real gentlewoman," housekeeper 

to Bounderby. 



131 



ARGUMENT 

" Hard Times," one of Dickens's shorter 
novels, and noteworthy as containing 
fewer characters than any other, is a ser- 
mon against the oppression of Fancy by 
Fact, and against the grinding life of 
factory workers. 

Thomas Gradgrind is "a man of reali- 
ties, a man of facts and calculations," who 
has smothered a naturally tender heart 
under a merciless system of education. 
This system he has advocated in the 
schools and practised in his own home. 
His children have not been allowed to 
use their imaginations, or indulge in 
sentiment, their whole existence being 
regulated by "Facts." The two oldest 
chiklren, Louisa, aged about fifteen years 
when the story opens, and Tom, slightly 
younger, are models of machine-made 
education though really of stunted per- 



134 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

sonality. A ray of interest enters the 
home when Cecilia Jupe, called " Sissy," 
the child of a circus performer, is be- 
friended by Gradgrind, who wishes to try 
his system upon her. While Sissy does 
not learn much under the system, her 
quiet, loving nature makes her a favourite 
in the household. 

Gradgrind's most intimate friend is 
Josiah Bounderby of Coketown, a bully 
of humility, who delights to tell how he 
rose from the gutter to become owner of 
Coketown's mills. Bounderby's admira- 
tion for Louisa Gradgrind has been of long 
standing, although she shrinks from his 
rough manners. 

Four or five years elapse, and young 
Tom Gradgrind, now well grown, is given 
a position in Bounderby's Bank. Tom 
has developed into a " whelp " of deceit 
and selfishness, yet is the sole object of 
Louisa's starved affections. For his sake 
she accepts Bounderby, when a proposal of 
marriage is made, and enters uncomplain- 
ingly into the manufacturer's dreary home. 



HABD TIMES 135 



Tom at once makes use of this situation 
to borrow money from his sister, and to 
shirk his duties. 

After a year of Louisa's uncongenial 
married life she becomes acquainted with 
James Harthouse, a careless man of the 
world sent on a political mission to Coke- 
town. Harthouse is suave, polished, and 
keen of scent. He quickly discovers the 
situation above outlined, and establishes 
himself in Louisa's regard — although she 
is unusually repressed — by pretending an 
interest in Tom. This young "whelp" has 
gone from bad to worse, adding gambling 
and defalcation to his other sins. He finally 
covers up a bank shortage by pretending 
that a robbery has been committed, and 
directing suspicion against Stephen Black- 
pool, a mill employee who has recently been 
discharged. Blackpool had not joined a 
union of his fellow-workers, and his 
blunt, honest speech had angered the 
blustering Bounderby ; hence his dis- 
charge. As he has disappeared from the 
town, Tom's plot of suspicion works ad- 



136 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

mirably. Louisa, however, suspects the 
truth, to her inward anguish. And 
Rachael, Stephen's steadfast friend, starts 
to work to clear his name. 

Mrs. Sparsit, ''a born gentlewoman,"' 
who has been Bounderby's housekeeper and 
an aspirant for his hand, is greatly cha- 
grined when he weds Louisa. She works 
assiduously to undermine the latter's repu- 
tation and ingratiate herself Avith Boun- 
derby. She is secretly delighted, therefore, 
with Harthouse's pursuit of Louisa, which 
has become more and more assiduous. She 
finally overhears the pair agree to secret 
elopement, and she hastens to the husband 
with the tale. Louisa, however, does not 
keep the appointment, but instead goes to 
her father and tells him the whole story 
of her wrecked, loveless life. Gradgrind 
realises, too late, the fatal flaw in his sys- 
tem of Fact. 

The alarmed Bounderby goes to ac- 
quaint Gradgrind with Louisa's flight, 
only to find her under her father's roof. 
Husband and wife part, and Louisa re- 



HARD TIMES 137 



luains there, being cared for aud awakened 
into something like affectionate life b}^ the 
devoted Sissy. The latter also induces 
Harthouse to leave the neighbourhood, 
and the dangerous incident is closed. 

Bounderby turns to the hunt for the 
bank robber with renewed vigour. Ra- 
chael, who alone knows Stephen's where- 
abouts, writes him to return. Nothing is 
heard from him for some days, until she 
and Sissy find that he has fallen down an 
abandoned shaft. He is rescued, and, 
dying, gives Gradgrind an inkling of the 
truth. The latter follows Tom — who has 
decamped upon the discovery of Stephen 
— to a place near Liverpool, and secures 
his escape to foreign parts, where Tom 
later dies. 

Mrs. Sparsit's machinations receive a 
final defeat when she unearths Boun- 
derby's mother, a simple soul who gives 
the true facts in the case of that self-made 
man's career. 

Some five years later, Bounderby dies 
in a fit on the Coketown street. Louisa, 



138 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

however, never marries again. Grad- 
grind retains the seat which he has se- 
cured in Parliament, but tries henceforth 
to tincture his politics and life with 
"Faith, Hope, and Charity." 



LITTLE DORRIT 

Eleventh novel ; appeared in monthly instalments, 
from December, 1855, to June, 1857 ; 
published in book form, June, 1857. 

Scene : London, and points on the Continent. 

Time: 1827-1830. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Mrs. Bangham, attendant at the Marshalsea. 

Bar, of the social set. 

TiTE Barnacle, of the "Circumlocution Office." 

Mrs. Tite Barnacle, his wife. 

The Three Misses Tite Barnacle, his daughters, 

Clarence Tite Barnacle, his son. 

Ferdinand Tite Barnacle, his relation. 

William Tite Barnacle, his relation. 

Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle, of the social set. 

Harriet Beadle (" Tattycoram"), companion to 
Minnie Meagles. 

Bishop, of the social set. 

Blandois (see Rigaud). 

Christopher Casby, hypocritical landlord. 

Giovanni Baptiste Cavalletto. 

John Chivery, turnkey of the Marshalsea. 

Mrs. Chivery, his wife. 

John Chivery, Jr., his son. 

Arthur Clennam, friend to the Dorrits. 

Mrs. Clennam, his sup2)osed mother. 

William Dorrit, inmate and "Father of the Mar- 
shalsea." 

Amy Dorrit ("Little Dorrit"), his daughter. 

Fanny Dorrit, Ids daughter. 
141 



142 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Edward Dorrit ("Tip"), his son. 
Frederick Dorrit, brother to William Dorrit. 
Daniel Doyce, of Doyce and Clennam, an inventor. 
Mrs. Flora Casby Finching, a talkative widow; 

former Jlame of Arthur Clennam. 
"Mr. F.'s Aunt," her aunt by marriage. 
Jeremiah Flintwich, servant to Mrs. Clennam. 
Affery Flintwich, hisidfe. 
Mrs. General, chaperon to the Misses Dorrit. 
Mrs. Gowan, member of the social set. 
Henry Gowan, her son ; a dilettante artist. 
Mrs. Minnie Gowan, nee Meagles, his wife. 
Doctor Haggage, physician at the Marshalsea. 
Jenkinson, messenger in " Circumlocution Office." 
Lagnier (see Rigaud). 
"Little Dorrit " (see Amy Dorrit). 
Maggy, half-witted protegee of " Little Dorrit." 
Meagles, " a man of business.'*^ 
Mrs. Meagles, his wife. 

Minnie Meagles, his daughter; later, Mrs. Gowan. 
Merdle, banker and promote?'. 
Mrs. Merdle, his wife. 

John Edward Nandy, father to Mrs. Plornish. 
Pancks, agent for Casby. 
Thomas Flourish, plasterer. 
Mrs. Sally Plornish, his wife. 
Rigaud, alias Lagnier, alias Blaudois, adventurer and 

criminal. 
RuGG, landlord to Pancks. 
Anastasia Rugg, his daughter. 
Edmund Sparkler, suitor, then husband to Fanny 

Dorrit. 



LITTLE DORRIT 143 

Lord Lancaster Stiltstalkino, of the social set. 
"Tattycoram" (see Harriet Beadle). 
Mrs. Tickit, cook and housekeeper to Meagles. 
Miss Wade, a woman with a temper. 
AVobbler, of the "Circumlocution Office." 

Tenants of Casby's ; Master Cripples ; inmates of tht 
Marshalsea; members of the social set, and others. 



ARGUMENT 

The story of "Little Dorrit" was di- 
rected against the English debtors' pris- 
ons, and the red-tape system and delay of 
governmental offices. 

Arthur Clennam, who has been travel- 
ling in India, returns to his home in Lon- 
don, which is presided over by a stern, 
puritanical, paralytic woman whom he be- 
lieves to be his mother. Since his father's 
death she has managed a declining com- 
mission business, with the assistance of a 
bullying servant, Flintwich ; but she and 
Arthur are not in sympathy, and he de- 
cides to withdraw from the firm. 

At his home he notices a young woman 
seamstress who is known as Little Dorrit. 
She interests him and he inquires into her 
history. Her father, William Dorrit, has 
been confined for debt in the Marshalsea 
Prison for so many years that he is known 
145 



146 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

as the ''Father of the Marshalsea." His 
daughter, Amy, or " Little Dorrit," as she 
is called because of her diminutive size, 
was born there and spent her early years 
in the shadow of the jail. Her mother 
died when Amy was eight. There were 
two other Dorrit children now grown, 
Fanny and Edward, — one pretty and 
frivolous, the other a ne'er-do-well. Upon 
Little Dorrit, therefore, devolves the care 
of her father and the oversight of her 
brother and sister — a heavy duty for the 
stanch, loving girl. In the daytime she 
hires out as a seamstress, and this explains 
her presence in the Clennam household. 
All this Arthur Clennam learns, and he 
resolves to aid her if possible. 

He inquires into the original Dorrit case 
in the national " Circumlocution Office," 
presided over by the Barnacle family, but 
the science of ''How not to do it" is so 
thorough as to balk all his efforts. How- 
ever, he makes the acquaintance of Daniel 
Doyce, an inventor who has been seeking 
government recognition with as little sue- 



LITTLE DORBIT 147 

cess. The two men decide to go into 
partnership, Doyce furnishing a plant and 
manufacturing experience, Clennam giv- 
ing capital and time. 

Their mutual friend, Meagles, a " prac- 
tical man," has an only daughter, Minnie, 
who is the object of Clennam's regard, but 
who favours a young artist of the aristo- 
cratic set, Henry Gowan by name. Gowan 
marries her and takes her to the Continent, 
where he is assisted in his artistic career 
by the purse of Meagles. Minnie's life 
thereafter is not particularly hapj^y. 

Clennam stifles his disappointment by 
working closely in his new office and also 
by renewing his efforts to assist the Dor- 
rits. He is offered consolation by a buxom 
and voluble widow. Flora Pinching, who 
had been a former flame of his ; but his 
heart now withstands her wiles. 

Little Dorrit, meanwhile, has instinc- 
tively turned to him, gratefully, for friend- 
ship, ever since he first proved his interest 
by releasing her brother from a small 
debt. His greater efforts on behalf of her 



148 mCKENS SYNOPSES 

father likewise prove successful at last. 
Dorrit is found to have inherited an estate, 
and he leaves the prison — after a quarter 
of a century — a free and wealthy man. 

The second book is concerned with the 
Dorrits in affluence, travelling through 
Switzerland and Italy and much encum- 
bered by servants with whom Mr. Dorrit 
is exceedingly pompous. Fanny and Ed- 
ward are likewise greatly given to pride 
on account of their new position. The 
two, in fact, are so conscious of their 
importance that they henceforth ignore 
Arthur Clennam. Little Dorrit alone is 
unspoiled through it all, and her heart 
goes out to her friend in childlike, undis- 
guised affection. 

Fanny Dorrit makes " a good match " 
by marrying Sparkler, a young man be- 
longing to the same set Avith Henry 
Gowan, and connected with the officials 
of the " Circumlocution Office." Dorrit is 
glad to cultivate one of the shining lights 
of this coterie, Merdle, a banker and pro- 
moter of speculations. Mrs. General, a 



LITTLE DORBIT 149 

very proper chaperon engaged by Dorrit 
for his daughters, almost becomes their 
stepmother ; but her designs are thwarted 
by the sudden decline and death of Dorrit. 
After his demise it is found that he has 
intrusted all his funds with Merdle. The 
latter commits suicide. It is then discov- 
ered that he is a swindler, and that hun- 
dreds of investors have suffered by his 
frauds. Dorrit's wealth thus vanishes. 
Another sufferer is Arthur Clennam, who 
likewise loses all his capital, and, not seek- 
ing escape from his creditors, is imprisoned 
by them in the same Marshalsea quarters 
where he had formerly visited the Dorrits. 
Here Little Dorrit finds him upon her 
return to England, and ministers to him 
just as she had ministered to her father. 
She nurses him through an illness, and the 
heart's secret of each is revealed to the 
other. 

Clennam's business friends, Doyce, 
Meagles, and others, come to his rescue. 
He is released from prison and weds 
Little Dorrit. 



150 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Meanwhile his supposed mother, Mrs. 
Clennam the paralytic, is forced to confess 
a secret regarding his birth. An adven- 
turer, Rigaud, alias Blandois, endeavours 
to blackmail her, but is prevented by 
the collapse of her old house which buries 
him in its ruins. Mrs. Clennam, how- 
ever, has confided her story to Little 
Dorrit, who had also been concerned in 
the past with the wrong and its conceal- 
ment. Mrs. Clennam soon after passes 
away, and thus removes the shadow from 
Arthur's life. 

Other characters concerned with the 
story are Pancks, the puffing rent collector, 
who traces up the Dorrit estate, and 
proves a good fortune-teller to Little Dor- 
rit ; Casby, the patriarchal leech, for whom 
Pancks sucks the tenants' blood ; young 
John Chivery, a devoted admirer of Little 
Dorrit, who finds relief from blighted 
affection by writing epitaphs ; Maggy, the 
simpleton woman, who calls Little Dorrit 
''little mother"; the explosive "Mr. F,'s 
Aunt " ; Cavalletto, a jail companion of 



LITTLE DOB BIT 151 

Rigaud, who later assists Clennam to 
track the adventurer ; Plornish, a plas- 
terer and his family; Harriet Beadle, 
known as " Tatty coram," a companion for 
Minnie Meagles ; Miss Wade, a lady with 
a temper; Mrs. Gowan, Henry's mother; 
and the tribe of Barnacles which thrive 
upon the "Circumlocution Office.'* 



A TALE OF TWO CITIES 

Twelfth novel ; appeared in AU the Year Bound, 

April to November, 1859 ; 

published in book form, December, 1869. 

Scene : London, Paris. 

Time : 1775-1792. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Sydney Carton, Imo student and idler. 

Roger Cly, police spy. 

Jeremiah Cruncher, porter for Tellson and Co. 

Mrs. Cruncher, his wife. 

"Young Jerry" Cruncher, his son. 

Charles Darnay, adopted name of a French gentle- 
man living in England. 

Mrs. Lucie Darnay, nee Manette, his wife. 

Lucie Darnay, their daughter. 

Ernest Defarge, French wine-seller. 

Mme. THERi:sE Defarge, his wife. 

FouLON, French Revolutionist. 

Theophile Gabelle, French tax-collector. 

Gaspard, French assassin. 

Jacques, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, French 
Bevolutionists. 

Jarvis Lorry, agent of Tellson and Co. 

Dr. Alexandre Manette, rescued French prisoner. 

Lucie Manette, his daughter; later, Mrs. Darnay. 

Miss Pross, her nurse. 

Solomon Pross, alias John Barsad, her brother; 
police spy. 

Marquis de St. Evremonde, uncle io Charles Darnay. 

C. J. Stryver, a bullying laioyer. 

Tellson and Company, bankers. 

'*The Vengeance," French B evolutionist. 

English : Coachman, guard, jailers, judge, lawyers. 

French: Wood-sawyer, turnkeys, tribunal, mob. 
155 



ARGUMENT 

The " Two Cities " are London and 
Paris. The Tale is divided into three 
books, the action of the first beginning 
in 1775. 

Jarvis Lorry, an English gentleman and 
confidential agent of the banking-house of 
Tellson and Company, goes to Paris at the 
request of his firm to seek out a French 
physician. Dr. Alexandre Manette, who 
had been secretly imprisoned in the Bas- 
tille, during eighteen years, for political 
reasons. Lorry is accompanied by Lucie 
Manette, daughter of the physician, who 
had believed her father dead. 

At Paris they discover the old Doctor 
living in a solitary, demented state, mak- 
ing shoes. They persuade him to accom- 
pany them to London, where his mental 
condition slowly improves, though subject 
to occasional lapses. 

157 



158 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

The second book takes up the narrative 
five years later — m 1780. 

Charles Darnay, a French gentleman 
earning a quiet livelihood in London as 
a tutor, is tried before the Court of Old 
Bailey for treason, being charged with 
supplying the French throne with infor- 
mation detrimental to England. Doctor 
Manette and his daughter are present, the 
latter reluctantly testifying to facts which 
threaten Darnay with conviction. But he 
is saved by a question of identities aris- 
ing, when it is found that a bystander, 
Sydney Carton, resembles him greatly. 
This fact disturbs the prosecutor's chain 
of evidence, and Darnay is acquitted. 

Both Carton and Darnay become fre- 
quent callers at the Manette home, as 
suitors for Lucie's hand. Carton, who 
has led a reckless, dissipated life, has no 
assured means of support and so does not 
press his suit. He reveals his heart to 
Lucie, however, and begs her to remember 
that he would make any sacrifice — even 
life itself — to render her happy. 



A TALE OF TWO CITIES 159 

Darnay is the accepted suitor, and mar- 
ries Lucie with the approval of her father, 
their good friend Lorry, and the devoted 
nurse, Miss Pross. 

Meantime public affairs in France have 
become more and more turbulent. The 
common people, borne down by the cruel 
wrongs of centuries, are beginning to rise 
and plan riot and murder. Charles Dar- 
nay 's uncle, the Marquis de St. Evre- 
monde, is murdered in his bed ; and 
the mob later sets fire to his chateau, 
and threatens the life of Gabelle, his col- 
lector of rents and taxes. Darnay, though 
his uncle's heir, has preferred to remain 
in England rather than live off a people 
whom he feels to be oppressed. To him 
Gabelle writes a letter praying protection. 
Although the waves of revolution are 
rising, Darnay cannot resist this appeal 
from his servant, but goes to France 
to his relief, without telling even his 
wife. 

The third book finds Darnay in the 
toils of the French Revolution of 1792. 



160 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Being an "aristocrat" he is seized and 
imprisoned. His wife and her father 
hasten to Paris to succour him. Lorry is 
also there at this time. Old Doctor Manette 
tinds favour with the mob by reason of the 
fact that he was a former Bastille prisoner. 

Darnay is brought before the improvised 
Tribunal and through the popularity and 
pleading of the Doctor is released. But 
the same day he is re-arrested on another 
charge, through the implacable animosity 
of the wife of Defarge the wine-seller. 

This time the Tribunal sentences the 
prisoner to death by the guillotine within 
twenty-four hours. His case is well-nigh 
hopeless, when Sydney Carton arrives on 
the scene, and obtains entrance into the 
prison by threatening to testify against a 
turnkey whom he recognises as a spy. 
He drugs Darnay, exchanges clothes with 
him, and effects the prisoner's escape by 
himself remaining in his stead. The re- 
semblance between the two men had been 
previously of service, and is now strong 
enough to prevent detection. 



A TALE OF TWO CITIES 161 

Darnay, Lucie, the Doctor, and their 
constant friend Lorry make their way to 
England and safety ; while Carton goes 
to the guillotine for the husband of the 
woman he loves. He mounts the scaffold 
in the calmness of genuine triumph — 
triumph in the prophetic knowledge that 
all this woe and carnage must give place 
to a grander nation and true liberty ; tri- 
umph that his own hitherto useless life 
has gone out in splendid service whose 
memory will never die among the loved 
ones he has j)reserved to peace and 
happiness. His thoughts are tinged only 
by the glow of self-sacrifice. 

" It is a far, far better thing that I do 
than I have ever done; it is a far, far 
better rest that I go to than I have ever 
known." 



GREAT EXPECTATIONS 

Thirteenth novel ; appeared in All the Year Bound, 
from December, 1860, to August, 1861 ; 
published in book form, August, 1861. 

Scene : Cooling Village, Kent ; London and vicinity ; 
reference is also made to Cairo. 

Time: 1830-1860. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Clara Barley, daughter of the invisible "Bill Bar- 
ley." 

Biddy, village friend of Pip ; conijmiiion to Mrs. 
Gargery. 

Mrs. and Miss Brandley, chaperons to Estella. 

Mrs. Camilla, a parasitic relation of Miss Havi- 
sham. 

Mrs. Coiler, neighbour of the Pockets. 

CoMPEYsoN, a convict^ former suitor to Miss Havisham. 

Bentley Drummle, « '■'■ gentlemanhj'''' acquaintance 
of Pip. 

Estella, ward of Mrs. Havisham. 

Flopson, servant to the Pockets. 

Joe Gargery, blacksmith^ friend to Pip. 

Mrs. Gargery, his wife, sister to Pip. 

Mrs. Georgiana, a parasitic relation of Miss Havi- 
sham. 

Miss Havisham, an eccentric spinster. 

Hubble, wheelwright. 

Mrs. Hubble, his wife. 

Jaggers, criminal laimjer and family solicitor; a man 
without feelings. 

Abel Magwitch, alias Provis, a convict; father to 
Estella. 

Mary Anne, servant to Wemmick. 
166 



166 DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Mike, a client of Jaggers. 

Millers, servant to the Pockets. 

Molly, housekeeper to Jaggers ; mother to Estella. 

DoLGE Orlick, apijrentice to Joe Gargery. 

Pepper, otherwise the '■'■Avenger^'''' " buttons'''' to Pip. 

Philip Pirrip, alvmys known as "Pip," a poor or- 
phan who comes into (jreat expectations; the 
narrator of the story. 

Matthew Pocket, a well-meaning ^ harassed relation 
of Miss Havisham ; tutor to Pip. 

Mrs. Belinda Pocket, his wife, of aristocratic de- 
scent. 

Herbert Pocket, his son, chum of Pip. 

Alick, Jane, and other Pocket children. 

Miss Sarah Pocket, a parasitic relation of Miss 
Havisham. 

Pumblechook, iincle to Mrs. Gargery ; self-appointed 
benefactor of Pip. 

Miss Skiffins, the object of John Wemmick's regard. 

Startop, friend to Pip. 

Trabb, tailor. 

"Trabb's Boy," an apprentice. 

Wemmick, the '•''Aged Parent''' to John. 

John Wemmick, clerk to Jaggers. 

Mrs. Whimple, landlady to the Barleys. 

Wopsle, church clerk turned tragedian. 

Sergeant, soldiers, judge, court officers, landlord, 
clients of Jaggers, atid others. 



ARGUMENT 

'' Great Expectations " is a sermon 
against snobbishness and ingratitude; it 
is the story of a poor boy lifted out of 
his first station, and of the effect this 
change produces in his character and 
career. 

The narrative is told in the first person 
by the boy himself, Philip Pirrip, whose 
name soon becomes shortened to Pip. He 
is left an orphan at a very early age, and 
is " brought up by hand " by the only 
other remaining member of his family, 
his sister, who is married to Joe Gargery, 
a worthy blacksmith of Cooling Village, 
Kent, " five hours out from London " and 
in a marsh country twenty miles from the 
sea. Mrs. Gargery is a vixenish woman, 
who visits her temper upon the boy ; and 
it would go still harder with him but for 
the quiet kindness and comradery of her 
husband. 

167 



168 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

One evening while out near the marshes, 
Pip is approached by a skulking stranger 
who proves to be an escaped convict. 
The boy is frightened into filching some 
food from his sister's pantry for this con- 
vict, who is recaptured with a fellow- 
prisoner next day, and returned to the 
Hulks. 

Pip's education begins in a primitive 
way at a small evening school, where he 
meets a village girl near his own age, 
known as Biddy. Soon afterward, Mrs. 
Joe's " Uncle Pumblechook " takes Pip 
to the neighbouring market town, where 
lives an eccentric spinster lady, Miss Havi- 
sham. This lady had been disappointed 
in a love-affair many years before, on the 
very eve of her wedding, and had lived 
ever since as if in preparation for it. Her 
only companion is a proud, beautiful girl 
about Pip's age, called Estella. Pip is 
introduced to these two, and visits the 
lonely mansion at regular intervals, in 
answer to a whim of the spinster. This 
glimpse of higher society makes the lad 



GREAT EXPECTATIONS 169 

secretly discontented with his own boor- 
ishness and ignorance, and he resolves to 
rise. 

However, he soon becomes apprenticed 
to Joe in the forge, and ceases his visits 
to town. He makes a secret enemy of 
Orlick, another apprentice. The chief 
incident during the apprenticeship is a 
mysterious attack upon Mrs. Gargery. 
She is knocked senseless by a blow on 
the head, which, while not fatal, leaves 
her senses benumbed. Biddy is called in 
to nurse her. 

After Pip has served four years, Jag- 
gers, a London lawyer, brings him news 
that a bequest has been granted him from 
a secret source, and that he has Great 
Expectations. Joe willingly releases him 
for the unexpired term, and Pip goes to 
London, invests in a wardrobe, secures 
apartments, and begins his life of a gen- 
tleman of means. Jaggers secures him a 
tutor in the person of Matthew Pocket, a 
kinsman of Miss Havisham, living near 
London. Pip's city lodgings are shared 



170 mCKENS SYNOPSES 

with Mr. Pocket's son Herbert, who 
speedily becomes Pip's steadfast friend. 
Pip becomes possessed with the idea that 
Miss Havisham is his secret benefactor, 
and that she has destined Estella for him. 
Meanwhile he finishes his education, with- 
out studying for any profession, and de- 
votes his energies to living expensively 
and foolishly. Although he goes down 
to the Havisham home to see Estella, he 
does not stop with Joe at the forge ; nor 
does he visit Joe and Biddy but once, 
when he is called there by the death of 
his sister. 

Pip now comes of age, and finds he has 
an income of five hundred pounds a year. 
His secret friend is not revealed to him, 
however. He invests one hundred a year 
in a partnership business for Herbert, and 
this deed is the first worthy one which 
has yet come of his expectations. 

After two more j^ears of a life aimless 
but for his fruitless wooing of Estella, a 
crisis comes in Pip's affairs. He learns 
that Miss Havisham is not his benefactor, 



GREAT EXPECTATIONS 171 



but that it is none other than the convict 
he had aided years before. This convict, 
Abel Magwitch, had been sent abroad for 
life, but escapes, and now returns to Lon- 
don to see Pip, whom he wishes to make 
a gentleman. Pip hears his story with 
horror ; but all other emotions are smoth- 
ered in planning to shelter the wanderer, 
who, if captured, would be put to death 
by law. He hides the man in a house 
near the river, and confides his dilemma 
to Herbert and Wemmick, the crusty but 
friendly clerk at Jaggers's office. 

To add to the convict's peril he has a 
long-time enemy in a former convict, Com- 
peyson, who was the suitor of Miss Havi- 
sham. Compeyson learns that Magwitch 
has returned, and spies upon him, although 
his friends use every safeguard. Orlick 
is an accomplice of Compeyson, and nearly 
succeeds in murdering Pip, through a de- 
coy letter. Orlick is also revealed as the 
assailant of Pip's sister. Pip plans to smug- 
gle Magwitch on board a steamer going 
abroad, and to go with him to see him 



172 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

safely out of England. He has, however, 
refrained from touching any of the con- 
vict's money since learning the facts of 
the case. 

Wemmick gives the signal for Mag- 
witch's escape, which Pip and Herbert set 
about effecting. They row the convict 
down the river, but at the moment when 
they have hailed their steamer, Compey- 
son appears with ofBcers. Magwitch and 
his enemy grapple, the boat is overturned, 
and Compeyson is drowned. Magwitch 
also receives mortal injuries; and though 
soon after tried and sentenced to death, 
he anticipates his sentence. 

The strain upon Pip, his worry and his 
debts, cause a physical breakdown. He 
is nursed through a severe illness by the 
faithful Joe, who settles with his creditors. 
He recovers to a sense of his past foil}" 
and ingratitude, and goes back to the vil- 
lage, half resolved to ask Biddy to marry 
him and begin life anew with her, but finds 
on his arrival that she is the wife of Joe. 

Meanwhile Miss Havisham dies, and 



GREAT EXPECTATIONS 178 

Estella (discovered by Pip to be Mag- 
witch's daughter) is married to a rival 
of Pip. Herbert's business takes him to 
Cairo, where Pip, having no other pros- 
pects or friends, joins him as clerk, and 
eventually works up to a partnership. 
After eleven years' absence Pip returns 
to England, discovers that Estella is a 
widow, and finally wins his suit with her. 
The leading characters have already 
been mentioned. Pumblechook is a type 
of hypocrite and pretender which Dickens 
delighted to draw. Wopsle, the village 
tragedian, should not be forgotten. Biddy 
is a figure of quiet womanliness. Jaggers 
and Wemmick cultivate the absence of 
feelings. And Joe Gargery's simple man- 
liness stamps him the strongest figure in 
the book. 



OUR MUTUAL FRIEND 

Fourteenth novel ; appeared in monthly instalment^ 

from May, 1864, to November, 1865 ; 

published in book form in November, 1865. 

Scene : London and vicinity. 

Time : 1860. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

SoPHRONiA Akersham (sec Mrs. Lammle), 
Blight, office boy to Lightwood and Wrayburn. 
NicoDEMus Boffin, inheritor of the Hd^nwon property 
Mrs. Henrietta Boffin, his wife. 
Boots, member of the Veneering social set. 
Brewer, member of the Veneering social set. 
Buffer, member of the Veneering social set. 
Cleaver, a drunken longshoreman. 
Fanny Cleaver, his daughter (see Jenny Wren). 
"Fascination" Fledgeby, money-lender. 
"Bob" Glibbery, servant to Miss Potterson. 
Julius Handford, assumed name of John Harmon. 
John Harmon, alias Julius Handford, alias John 

Rokesmitli, prospective heir to Harmon property., 

and supposedly deceased. 
Bradley Headstone, schoolmaster and rival of 

Wrayburn. 
Jesse Hexam ("Gaffer"), longshoreman. 
Lizzie Hexam, his daughter. 
Charley Hexam, his son. 
Mrs. Betty Higden, an old woman who dreads the 

Poorhouse. 
Little Johnny, an orphan in charge of Mrs. Higden. 
Jacob Kibble, sea-going merchant. 
Alfred Lammle, social adventiirer. 
177 



178 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

Mrs. Sophronia Lammle, nee Akersham, his wife, 
and likewise an adventurer. 

Mortimer Lightwood, lawyer associated with Wray- 
burn. 

Mary Ann, pupil to Miss Peecher. 

Rev. Frank Milvey, a clergyman. 

Mrs. Margaretta Milvey, his emphatic wife. 

Miss Emma Peecher, a schoolmistress. 

Podsnap, member of the Veneering social set. 

Mrs. Podsnap, his wife, also a member. 

Georgiana Podsnap, his daughter. 

Miss Abigail Potterson, mistress of the " Fellowsliii) 
Porters" Inn. 

Job Potterson, her brother, a ship steward. 

RiAH, a Jew in charge of Fledgeby's money-lending 
business, as " Pubsey and Co." 

Roger ("Rogue") Riderhood, longshoreman. 

Pleasant Riderhood, his daughter. 

John Rokesmith, assumed name of John Harmon. 

George Sampson, admirer of Lavinia Wilfer. 

Sloppy, one of Mrs. Higdeii's charges; boy who is 
later cared for by the Boffins. 

Lady Tippins, member of the Veneering social set. 

Melvin Twemlow, member of the Veneering social 
set. 

Hamilton Veneering, a brand-new member of so- 
ciety, and finally an M.P. 

Mrs. Veneering, his wife, also a brand-nexo member. 

Venus, '•^preserver of animals and birds, articulator 
of human bones.''"' 

Silas Wegg, a one-legged ballad-monger, loho be- 
comes interested in Boffin's affairs. 



OUM MUTUAL FRIEND 179 

Reginald Wilfer, clerk to Veneering. 

Mrs. Wilfer, his wife. 

Bella Wilfer, his daughter ; later, Mrs. Harmon. 

Lavinia Wilfer, his daughter, the Irrepressible. 

Eugene Wrayburn, lawyer associated with Light- 
wood ; admirer of Lizzie Hexam, 

Jenny Wren (real name Fanny Cleaver), dolVs 
dressmaker ; protegee of Lizzie Hexam. 

Police inspector, longshoremen, members of the social 
set, physician, and others. 



ARGUMENT 

'' Our Mutual Friend " is an involved, 
loosely constructed story of London life 
introducing three themes. The leading 
plot is that of a man supposed to be dead, 
and legally dead for a period, so far as 
his interests and acquaintances are con- 
cerned. The second is the idle pursuit of 
a young woman by a man of superior social 
station, and its result. While the third 
theme shows the mischief caused by two 
adventurers in society. 

An eccentric and wealthy old man named 
Harmon, after quarrelling with his son, 
dies while the son is abroad and leaves 
him the bulk of his property upon condi- 
tion that the young man will marry a girl 
of the father's choosing. The remainder 
of the property is left to Mr. and Mrs. 
Boffin, the family servants. John Harmon, 
the son, takes passage home, and on land- 
■ 181 



182 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

ing in London falls into the hands of ras- 
cally longshoremen who rob him. Another 
man, much like him in general appearance, 
is robbed at the same time, and both are 
rendered senseless and thrown into the 
river. Harmon manages to escape drown- 
ing. The others dead body is picked up 
and identified as Harmon's. The young 
man finds himself in the singular position 
of being dead in the eyes of the law, but 
resolves to profit by it. He has never seen 
his destined bride, and, fearing that she 
might accept him only because of his prop- 
erty, he decides to woo her as a stranger. 
He takes the name of Julius Handford, 
and then that of John Rokesmith. 

The plot does not reveal the identity of 
the supposed Rokesmith clearly at the out- 
set, although the reader soon recognises 
him. But during the greater part of the 
story he is known to his acquaintances by 
this name only, which will be followed 
here. 

Rokesmith takes lodgings in the home 
of Reginald Wilfer, a mild man, clerk by 



OUR MUTUAL FRIEND 183 

profession, entirely at the mercy of a severe 
wife and two spoiled daughters. The 
elder of these, Bella, is the young woman 
specified in the Harmon will; and it is 
secretly on her account that Rokesmith 
becomes a lodger under her father's roof. 
He finds her beautiful, but heartless, proud, 
and wayward ; yet is attracted to her 
despite these traits. 

He next seeks out Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, 
who have not seen him for several years 
and do not recognise him, since they be- 
lieve him dead. That worthy couple have 
come into possession of the entire estate 
on account of his supposed demise, and 
their simple natures are much perplexed 
as to the future. They move into a fine 
house and make strenuous efforts to live 
fashionably. By way of education. Boffin 
secures the services of a one-legged ballad- 
monger, named Silas Wegg, to read to him. 
Rokesmith now seeks Boffin's employment 
as secretary and is engaged. 

Soon afterward the Boffins invite Bella 
Wilfer to live with them, the invitation 



184 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

being prompted by their feeling that she 
has lost a prospective fortune through 
young Harmon's death. She accepts the 
offer, and the secretary has further oppor- 
tunity to press his suit. He proposes, but 
is scornfully rejected, she calmly stating 
that she intends to make a wealthy match. 
To consider the second theme of the 
book, it will be necessary to revert to the 
opening chapter. The supposed body of 
Harmon is picked up by Hexam, a boat- 
man who makes a living out of this doubt- 
ful business. He has two children, Lizzie, 
a young woman of naturally refined tastes, 
and Charley, a boy who is being urged 
forward to the procuring of an education 
by his unselfish sister. When the " Har- 
mon " body is found, a young lawyer, 
Eugene Wrayburn, is brought thereby to 
the Hexam cottage and becomes interested 
in Lizzie, in so far as his indolent disposi- 
tion will let him get engrossed in any- 
thing. He has a further chance to gain 
her friendship, when her father is falsely 
accused by a former partner, Riderhood, 



OUR MUTUAL FRIEND 185 

of the murder of Harmon. Nothing comes 
of the accusation, for Hexam is acciden- 
tally drowned at this juncture ; but the 
stigma is left for Lizzie to bear. Eugene 
now persuades the girl to allow him to 
provide a common-school teacher for her, 
and she takes private lessons. After her 
father's death she lives with a little crip- 
pled girl, of thirteen or fourteen, called 
Jenny Wren, who supports herself and 
her drunken father by making dresses for 
dolls. Lizzie's brother Charley is achiev- 
ing rapid progress at school, but his edu- 
cation tends to make him selfish and 
overbearing. He hears of Eugene's share 
in his sister's affairs and, justly enough, 
interferes, but without success. His school- 
master, Bradley Headstone, takes the lad's 
part, but his interest becomes personal 
when he meets Lizzie. He conceives a 
violent passion for her, and becomes a bit- 
ter rival of Wrayburn, who, on his part, is 
merely drifting in the matter. The false 
accusation made by Riderhood comes to 
Rokesmith's ears and he makes the accuser 



186 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

sign a retraction. Lizzie, meanwhile, is 
subjected to the attentions of Wrayburn 
and Headstone and the criticisms of her 
brother, until finally in despair she seeks 
the protection of Riah, a friendly Jew, 
who obtains secret employment for her at 
a mill outside of London. Wrayburn at 
once begins to trace the girl, while Head- 
stone dogs his rival's every movement. 

The third theme in the book deals with 
the world of fashion. Mr. and Mrs. 
Veneering are newly rich people whose 
surroundings and friends are brand-new. 
Among these friends are Mr. and Mrs. 
Alfred Lammle, who have been mutually 
deceived in marrying each other for 
money, and who now seek to keep up 
appearances by a species of social piracy. 
After being foiled in one of their schemes, 
they seek to get into the good graces of 
the Boffins by telling them that Rokesmitli 
is a designing adventurer who has used 
his position to lay siege to Bella Wilfer. 
Boffin is outwardly indignant at this news 
and dismisses Rokesmith summarily, in 



OUR MUTUAL FRIEND 187 

Bella's presence. But her better nature 
has meanwhile prevailed. She has noted 
that Boffin himself has seemed to grow 
hard and grasping under the influence of 
money, and she now renounces all idea 
of a mercenary marriage. She leaves the 
Boffin home on the same day that Roke- 
smith is discharged, and the secretary finds 
out that her heart is his after all. They 
become secretly wedded and start to house- 
keeping in a modest way. 

The Lammles do not greatly profit by 
their treachery. They have hoped to take 
the places of Rokesmith and Bella with 
the Boffins, but are quietly dismissed. 
They are sold out by creditors and leave 
England. 

Wrayburn at last learns Lizzie Hexam's 
country address and sets forth to see her, 
closely pursued by the indefatigable Head- 
stone. Wrayburn meets the girl, who lets 
him see that she cares for him, but will 
continue to fly from his attentions. After 
the interview. Headstone assaults his rival 
and throws him in the water, whence he 



188 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

is rescued by Lizzie, who has been attracted 
by the sound of the struggle. She carries 
him to an inn, where he lingers for a long 
time between life and death. Upon his 
sick-bed he marries Lizzie. He at last 
recovers to begin life with new and worthy 
resolution. Headstone is well-nigh de- 
mented when he learns that his interfer- 
ence has joined instead of parting the 
lovers. He is also preyed upon by the 
informer, Riderhood, until in desperation 
he commits suicide, dragging with him 
into the rushiiig canal lock this contemp- 
tible man. 

"Our Mutual Friend" — as Boffin has 
formerly styled Rokesmith — lives a retired 
happy life with Bella, who is quite con- 
tented with their modest income. But he 
has not yet summoned up courage to tell 
her his true name. Circumstances, how- 
ever, bring it unexpectedly to light, and 
Bella finds that she actually has married 
the John Harmon of her dreams, so long 
supposed to be dead. She finds also that 
the good-hearted Boffins have for some 



OUB MUTUAL FRIEND 189 

time been a party to the secret and that 
they have treated the secretary harshly in 
order to awaken her sympathies. And 
she and John return to the Boffin home 
and complete the provisions of the will. 

Another underplot now comes to the 
surface. Silas Wegg, the one-legged versi- 
fier, has discovered another Harmon will, 
giving the bulk of the property to the 
Crown. Boffin makes a great show of 
terror at this, when Wegg threatens him 
with it and demands a large sum of hush 
money. But Boffin himself has a still later 
document giving the entire property to 
himself and his wife, and although he will 
not disturb John and Bella in their posses- 
sion, he uses the will to overthrow Wegg 
completely. The latter makes an undig- 
nified exit from the field. 

The several situations end at this point. 
Among the minor characters, mention 
must be made of : Jenny Wren, one of 
Dickens's most delightful girls who "knows 
their tricks and their manners"; Sloppy, 
the good-natured boy; Lightwood, the 



190 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

fellow-solicitor with Wrayburn; Fledgeby, 
the mean backer of the Jew Riah ; Venus, 
the "preserver of animals and articulator 
of human bones " ; the Podsnaps, " old " 
friends of the new Veneerings ; Betty 
Higden, the woman who flees from the 
Poor Laws ; and the Irrepressible Lavvy 
Wilfer, who refuses to be awed by her 
majestic " Ma." 



THE 
MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 

Fifteenth and last novel ; 

begun in monthly instalments, April, 1870 ; 

left unfinished, June 8, 1870 ; 

last number appeared, September, 1870, 

when incomplete book was published. 

Scene : Rochester ; London. 
Time : circa 1866. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

15AZZARD, clerk to Grewgious. 

xMrs. Billickin, keeper of hoarding -house. 

HosA Bud, orphan^ at first engaged to Drood. 

Kev. Septimus Crisparkle, minor canon of Cloia- 
terham Cathedral. 

Mrs. Cimspakkle, his mother. 

"Dick" Datciierv, dctectwc. 

Dean, 0/ Cloisterham Cathedral. 

'• Deputy," alias " Winks," street hoy whose chief 
occupation is throwing stones. 

EinviN Drood, civil engineer. 

"Stony" Ddrdles, stone-mason. 

Hiram Grewgious, lav)yer ; guardian to Rossb E\i6. 

Luke Honeythunder, professional philanthropist. 

John Jasper, choir-master in Cloisterham Cathedral ; 
uncle and guardian of Drood. 

Joe, stage driver. 

Neville Landless, ward to Honeythunder. 

Helena Landless, his livin sister, and also ward to 
Honeythunder. 

Lobley, ahle seaman under Tartar. 

Old Woman Opium-eater. 

Thomas Sapsea, auctioneer ; mayor of Cloisterham. 

Lieutenant Tartar, retired from the Navy. 

Mrs. Tisher, assistant to Miss Twinkle ton. 

Tope, verger at Cloisterham Cathedral. 

Mrs. Tope, his wife. 

Miss Twinkleton, principal of young lady^s semi- 
nary. 

193 



ARGUMENT 

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" re- 
mains a mystery by reason of the fact 
that its author passed away before he had 
time to clear it up. The story is left in 
fragmentary state, with the murder or 
disappearance of the titular character un- 
explained. 

In a quiet cathedral town called Clois- 
terham, not many hours out of London, 
lives a choir-master, John Jasper, who pre- 
sents an irreproachable front to the world, 
but who is an opium-eater and a thoroughly 
unprincipled man. His ward and nephew, 
Edwin Drood, believes in him, and loves 
him. Edwin is a young man, — not much 
the junior of Jasper, — who has studied 
engineering and now contemplates going 
to Egypt. First, however, Edwin is to 
be married to Rosa Bud, an orphan, like 
himself, who has been destined for him by 
195 



196 BICKENS SYNOPSES 

the terms of their respective fathers' wills. 
The young people are fond of each other, 
but do not love heartily, perhaps because 
their choice is not free in the matter. 
Jasper on his part has a secret passion for 
Rosa and is determined to obtain her, even 
at the cost of his nephew's life. Edwin 
does not suspect this passion, but Rosa has 
been made to feel it through a hypnotic 
power exercised by the music-master. 

Jasper does not see his way clear to a 
plot against Edwin until chance sends to 
Cloisterham a twin brother and sister 
reared in Ceylon, Neville and Helena 
Landless. Their guardian, Honey thun- 
der, a professional philanthropist, sends 
them here to complete their education — 
Neville under the Rev. Crisparkle, minor 
canon of the cathedral, and Helena, at 
the seminary attended by Rosa. Neville 
becomes acquainted with Edwin Drood, 
but the two young men are of antagonistic 
types and indulge in a boyish quarrel, 
being egged on by Jasper, who perceives 
in Neville a tool to his liking. Jasper 



THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 197 



causes it to be circulated that Neville is 
a dangerous character and has designs 
upon the safety of Edwin, through love 
for Rosa. Although the young men are 
reconciled, and the good Mr. Crisparkle 
is sponsor for Neville's conduct, the latter 
comes to be regarded generally with 
distrust. 

When Jasper has brought matters to 
this state, he invites Edwin and Neville 
to his home, one Christmas Eve. It is 
hard upon the time when Edwin and 
Rosa are to marry, but the plighted couple 
have already determined to break off the 
match, although the fact has not become 
known even to Edwin's uncle. That 
night EdAvin disappears and is never seen 
again. Jasper claims that Neville was the 
last one with him, the two having left his 
home to go for a walk by the river. Nev- 
ille admits this, but asserts that Edwin 
after leaving him returned to Jasper's 
house. Crisparkle believes his pupil's 
story, as indeed would any one who knew 
the young man's real nature. But Jasper 



198 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

has poisoned the sentiment against him, 
and he is believed to be Edwin's mur- 
derer. A watch and pin belonging to the 
lost man are found in the river, a fact 
heightening the suspicion. But no direct 
clews are as yet fastened to Neville. He 
is, therefore, suffered to go free, although 
under a cloud. 

Jasper is seized with extraordinary 
emotion when he finds that the putting 
away of his nephew was entirely unneces- 
sary, on account of the parting between 
Edwin and Rosa. Nevertheless he does 
not relax in his efforts against the welfare 
of Neville. Instead, he comes openly to 
Rosa with a proposal of marriage, hinting 
dark threats if she does not accept him. 
In alarm she flees to her guardian in 
London, Mr. Grewgious, for protection. 
There she continues her acquaintance with 
her good friend Helena Landless, who is 
now in the metropolis with her brother. 
Rosa also meets Lieutenant Tartar, retired 
from the Navy, and this officer's attentions 
are not at all displeasing to her. 



THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 199 

The tale ends with Datchery, a detec- 
tive, working to clear up the mystery, 
one or two hidden threads of wliich lead 
toward Jasper. The actual denouement 
can only be surmised, and never definitely 
known. Dickens's original plan, as out- 
lined to a friend, was to have Jasper, 
seized for the crime, tell his own story. 
" The last chapters were to be written in 
the condemned cell, to which his wicked- 
ness, all elaborately elicited from him as if 
told of another, had brought him. Discov- 
ery by the murderer of the utter needless- 
ness of the murder for its object was to 
follow hard upon the commission of the 
deed [this the story shows] ; but all dis- 
covery of the murderer was to be baffled 
till toward the close, when, by means of 
a gold ring, Avhich had resisted the corro- 
sive effects of the lime into which he had 
thrown the body, not only the person mur- 
dered was to be identified, but the locality 
of the crime and the man who committed 
it. . . . Rosa was to marry Tartar, and 
Crisparkle, the sister of T^andless, who 



200 DICKENS SYNOPSES 

was himself to have perished in assisting 
Tartar finally to unmask and seize the 
murderer." 

This outline does not account for all 
the situations in the story, and might later 
have been changed in the development, 
but must now suffice as the fullest clew 
left to the Mystery of Edwin Drood. 



INDEX TO CHARACTERS 



The following abbreviations are used in this index : Barnaby 
Rudge=Eudge; Bleak House = Bleak H. ; David Copperfield = 
David C. ; Dombey and Son=Dombey; Edwin Drood=Drood; 
Great Expectations = Great Ex. ; Hard Times = Hard T. ; Little 
Dorrit= Dorrit ; Martin Clnizzlewit= Martin C. ; Nicholas Nicklebj' 
= Nickleby; Old Curiosity Shop=0. C. Shop; Oliver Twist = 
Twist; Our Mutual Friend = Mutual ; Pickwick Papers = Pick- 
wick ; A Tale of Two Cities = Two Cities. 



Akerman Ricdge 

Akersham, Sophronia Mutual 



Allen, Arabella . , 

Allen, Benjamin , 

Allen's Aunt . . , 

Augusta . . . . 

Babley, Richard . . 
Badger, Bay ham , 
Badger, Laura . , 
Bagnets, The . . 

Bagsby 

Bagstock, Jos. . , 

Bailey 

Bangham, Mrs. . . 
Bantam, A. C. . . 
Baps, Mr. and Mrs. 



Barbara's Mother 

Barbary, Miss . 

Bardell, Martha . 

Bardell, Tommy 

Barkis Darid C. 



Pickicick 
PickwicJc 
Pickicick 
Bleak H. 

David C. 
Bleak 11. 

Bleak IT. 

Bleak H. 

Bleak H. 

Domhey 

Martin C. 

Dorrit 

Pickroiek 

. Domhey 

. Dorrit 
0. C. Shop 
0. C. Shop 

Bleak H. 

Pickwick 

Pickicick 



Barley, Clara . 




Great Ex, 


Barnacles, The Tite . Dorrit 


Barney 


. Twist 


Bates, Charley 






. Txcist 


Bazzard . . . 






Drood 


Beadle, Harriet 






Dorrit 


Bedwin, Mrs. 






. TxciHt 


Berry, Miss . 






Domhey 


Betsey . . . 






. Twist 


Bevan . . . 




Ifartiii C 


Biddy . . . 




Great Ex. 


Billickin, Mrs. 




Drood 


Bishop . . . 




. Dorrit 


Bitherstone . 




. . Dombey 


Bitzer . . . 




. Hard T. 


Blackpool, Steph 


en 


. Hard T. 


Blackpool, Mrs. 




. Hard T. 


Blandois . . 




. Dorrit 


Blight . . . 




. Mutual 


Blimbers, The 




. Domhey 


Blinder, Mrs. 




Bleak H. 


Blockitt, Mrs. 




. Domhey 


Blotton . , . 




Pickwick 


Boffin, Mr. and M 


rs 




Mutual 



201 



202 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Boldwig .... Pickwick 
Bolo, Miss . . . Pickwick 

Boots Mutual 

Bounderb}', Josiah . Hard T. 
Bounder bj', Louisa . Hard T. 
Boythoru, Lawrence Bleak //, 
Brandleys, The . . Great Ex. 
Brass, Sampson . . O. C. Shop 
Brass, Sally . . . 0. C. Shop 
Bray, Walter. . . Nicklehy 
Bray, Madeline . . Mcklehy 

Brewer Mutual 

Brick, Jefferson . Martin C. 

Briggs Domhey 

Brittles Ticist 

Brogley Domhey 

Brooker .... MckWby 
Browdie, John . . Kickleby 
Browdie, Matilda . Nickleby 

BroAvn, Mrs Domhey 

Brown, Alice . . . Domhey 

Brownlow Twist 

Bucket Bleak H. 

Bud, Eosa .... Drood 
Budger, Mrs. . . Pickwick 

Buffer Mutual 

Bumble, Mr. and Mrs. . Twixt 
Bunsby, John . . . Domhey 
Buzfuz Pickwick 



Camilla, Mrs. 
Carkers, The . . 
Carstone, Richard 
Carton, Sydney . , 
Casby, Christopher 
Cavalletto, G. B. 
Chadbands, The . 
Charlotte . . . 
Cheeryble Bros. 



Great Ex. 
. Domhey 
Bleak H. 
Tico Cities 
. Dorrit 
Dorrit 
Bleak H. 
. . Twist 
Mcklehy 



Cheeryble, Frank 
Cheggs .... 
Cheggs, Miss . . 
Chester, Sir John 
Chester, Edward 
Chick, John . 
Chick, Louisa 
Childers, E. W 
Chillip . . . 
ChitliDg, Thos. 
Chiverys, The 
Choke, Cyrus 
Chollop, Hannibal 
Chuckster . 
Chuffey . 
Chuzzlewits, The 
Clare, Ada 
Clark . . . 
Clay pole, Noah 
Cleaver . . . 
Cleaver, Fanny 
Clennam, Arthur 
Clennam, Mrs. 
Cluppins, Ehz. 
Cly, Roger 
Cobb, Thos. . 
Codlin, Thos. 
Coiler, Mrs. . 
Compeyson . 
Copperfields, The 
Corney, Mrs. 
Cracklt, Toby 
Craddock, Mrs. 
Creakles, The 
Crimple, David 
Crisparkle, Septimus 
Crisparkle, Mrs. 
Crowl .... 
Crumraleses, The 



Nickleby 

0. a Shop 

O. C. Shop 
. Rudge 

Rudge 
. Dotnhey 
. Domhey 
. Hard T. 
David a 
. . Twist 
. Dorrit 
Jlariin C. 
Martin C. 
O. a Shop 
JIartin C. 
Martin C. 
Bleak U. 
. Domhey 
. . Tivist 
. Mutual 
. Mutual 

Dorrit 
. Dorrit 
Pickwick 
Two Citiex 
. Rudge 
O. C. Shop 
Great Ex. 
Great Ex. 
David C. 
. . Twist 
. . Twist 
Pickwick 
David C. 
Martin C. 

Drood 
, Drood 
Nicklehy 
Mcklehy 



IND 


EX TO C 


HARACTERS 


203 


Crunchers, The , 


Two Cities 


Finching Flora . 


. . Dorrit 


Crupp, Mrs. . . 


David 0. 


"Mr. F.'s Aunt" 


. . Dorrit 


Cuttle, Edward . 


. Dombey 


Tips 


. Martin C. 






Fizkin, Horatio . 


. Picktoick 


Daisy, Solomon . . 


Rudge 


Fladdock . . . 


. Martin C. 


Darnay, Chas. . 


Tii:o Cities 


Flasher, Wilkin s 


. Pickwick 


Darnay, Lucie . 
Dartle, Rosa . . 


Two Cities 


Fledgeby . . . 


. . Mutual 


David C. 


Fleming, Rose . 


. . . Twist 


Datchery, Dick . 


. Drood 


Flintwich, Mr. and 


Mrs. Dorrit 


Dawkins, Jack . 


. . Twist 


Elite, Miss . . 


. Bleak II. 


Dedlocks, The . 


Bleak II. 


Flopson . . . 


. Great Ex. 


Defarge, Ernest . 


Two Cities 


Fogg .... 


. Pickwick 


Defarge, Ther^se 


Two Cities 


Folair, Thos. 


. Mckleby 


Dennis, Edw. , 


. Budge 


Foulon .... 


. Tioo Cities 


"Deputy" . . 


. Drood 






"Dick, Mr.". . 


David a 


Gabelle, Theophile 


. Two Cities 


"DismalJemmy " 


Pickwick 


"Game Chicken " 


. . Dombey 


Diver .... 


Martin C. 
Pickwick. 


Gamfield . . . 


. . . Twist 


Dodson .... 


Gamp, " Sairey " 


. Martin C. 


Dombeys, The . 


. Dombey 


Gargery, Joe . . 


. Great Ex. 


Donny, The Misses 


Bleak II. 


Gargery, Mrs. . 


. Great Ex. 


Dorrits, The . . 


Dorrit 


Garlands, The . 


. 0. C. Shop 


Dowler, Mr. and Mi 


s. Pickwick 


Gashford . . . 


. . Budge 


Doyce, Daniel . 


. Dorrit 


Gaspard . . . 


. Two Cities 


Drood, Edwin . 


. Drood 


Gay, Walter . . 


. . Dombey 


Drummle, B. 


Great Ex. 


General, Mrs. 


. . Dorrit 


Dubbley . . . 


Pickwick 


George, Mrs. 


. 0. a Shop 


Durdles . . . 


. . Drood 


Georgiana, Mrs. 


. Great Ex. 






Gilbert, Mark . 


. . Rudge 


Edwards, Miss . 


. 0. C. Shop 


Giles .... 


. . . Twist 


" Em'ly, Little " 


David C. 


Gills, Solomon . 


. . Dombey 


Endell, Martha . 


David C. 


Glibbery, "Bob" 


. . Miitual 


Estella .... 


. Great Ex. 


Glubb .... 


. . Dombexi 




Goodwin . . . 


. Pickwick 


Fagin .... 


. . . Twist 


Gordon, Lord George . Budge 


Fang .... 


. . . Twist 


Gowan, Henry . 


. . Dorrit 


Feeder .... 


. . Dombey 


Go wan, Mrs. . . 


. . Dorrit 


Feeder. Alfred . 


. . Dombey 


Gradgrinds, The 


. . Hard T. 


"Feenix, Cousin " 


. . Dombey 


Graham, Mary . 


. . Martin 



204 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Granger, Edith . , 
Grewgious, Hiram 
Gride, Arthur 
Gridley . . . 
Grimwig . . 
Grinder . . 
Groves, Jem . 
Grabble, W. 
Grudden, Mrs. 
Grueby, John 
Grummer . . 
Gummidge, Mrs. 
Gimter . . 
Guppy, "Wm, 
Guppy, Mrs. 
Gusher . . 



. Domhey 
. Drood 
Nicklehy 
Bleak II. 
. . Twist 

o. a Shop 
0. a Shop 

Bleak II. 

Mckleby 
. Rudge 
Pickicick 

David C. 
Picktcick 

Bleak H. 

Bleak II. 

Bleak II. 



Haggage .... 
Handford, Juhus . 
Haredale, Emma . 
Haredale, Geoffrey . 
Harmon, John . . 

Harris 

Harris 

Harthouse . . . 
Havisham, Miss 
Hawdon .... 
Hawk, Sir Mulberry 
Headstone, Bradley 
Heep, Uriah . . . 
Heep, Mrs. . . . 
H exams, The . . 
Higden, Betty . . 
Hominys, The 



Dorr it 

Mutual 

Rudge 

Rudge 

Mutual 

Pickivick 

0. C. Shop 

. Hard T. 

Great Ex. 

Bleak n. 

Nicklehy 

. Mutual 

David C. 

David C. 

. Mutual 

. Mutual 

Martin C. 



Honeythunder, Luke . Drood 
Hopkins, Jack . . Pickwick 
Hortense .... Bleak II. 
Howler, Melchisedech Domhey 
Hubble, Mr. and Mrs. Oreat E^. 



Hugh Rudge 

Humm, Anthony . Pickwick 
Hunter, Leo . . . Pickwick 
Hunter, Mrs, . . Pickwick 

Jackson .... Pickwick 
Jacques .... Trco Cities 
Jaggers .... Great Ex. 

Janet David C. 

Jarley, Mrs. . . . O. C. Shop 
Jarndyce, John . . Bleak H. 
Jasper, John .... Drood 
Jellybys, The . . Bleak II. 

Jemima Domhey 

Jenkinson Dorrit 

Jerry 0. C. Shop 

Jingle, Alfred . . Pickwick 
Jiniwin, Mrs . . . 0. C. Shop 
Jinkins Martin C. 



Jinks 

Jo, "Little" . . . 
Jobling, John . . 
JobUng, Tony . . 

Joe 

Joe 

Johnny, " Little" . 



Pickwick 
Bleak H. 

Martin C. 
Bleak II. 

Pickwick 
Drood 

. Mutual 



Johnson Domhey 

Joram, Mr. and Mrs. David C. 
Jorkins .... David C. 
Jowl, Mat . . . . 0. C. Shop 
Jupe, "Sissy" . . . Hard T. 

Kags Txcist 

Kenge Bleak H. 



Kenwigs, The . 
Kettle, Lafayette 
Kibble, Jacob . 
Kidderminster . 
Knag, Miss . . 
Krook .... 



Mcklehy 
Martin C. 
. Mutual 
. Hard T. 
Nicklehy 
Bleak H. 



INDEX TO CHARACTEBS 



205 



La Creevy, Miss . Nickldby 

Lagnier Dorrit 

Laramie, Alfred . . . Mutual 
Lammle, Sophrouia . Mutual 
Landless, Helena . . Brood 
Landless, Neville . . Drood 

Langdale Rudge 

Ledrook, Miss . . Mckleby 
Leeford, Edward . . . Twist 
Lenville .... Nickleby 
Lewsome .... Martin C. 
Lightwood, Mortimer Mutual 
Lillyvick .... Nicklehy 
Linkinwater, Timothy Mckleby 
List, Isaac . . . 0. C. Shop 
Littimer .... David C. 

Lobley Drood 

Lorry, Jarvis . . Two Cities 

Losberne Ticiat 

Lowten .... Pickwick, 
Lupin, Mrs. . . . 3fartin 0. 

M'Choakumchild . . Hard T. 
MacStingers, The . . Doinhey 

Maggy Dorrit 

Magnus, Peter . . Pickwick 
Magwitch, Abel . . Great Ex. 
Maldon, Jack . . David C. 
Mallard ..... Pickwick 
Manette, Alex. . . Two Cities 
Manette, Lucie . . Two Cities 

Mann, Mrs Twist 

Mantalini, Alfred . Nickleby 
Mantalini, Mme. . ^ Nickleby 
"Marchioness" . O. C. Shop 
Markleham, Mrs. . David C. 

Martin Pickwick 

Marton 0.0. Shop 

Mary Pickwick 



Mary Ann Mutaial 

Mary Anne . . . Great Ex. 

Maylies, The Twist 

Meagleses, The . . . Dorrit 

MeU Danid C. 

Merdle, Mr. and Mrs. Dorrit 
Micawbers, The . . David 0. 

Miff, Mrs Dombey 

Miggs, Miss .... Rudge 

Mike Great Ex. 

Miller Pickwick 

Millers Great Ex. 

Mills, Julia . . . David C. 
Milvey, Frank . . . Jfutual 
Milvey, Margaretta . 3futual 

Mivins Pickwick 

Moddle, Augustus . 3Iartin 0. 

Molly Great Ex. 

Monflathers, Miss . O. C. Shop 

Monks Twist 

Morfin Dombey 

Mould, Mr. and Mrs. Martin C. 
Mowcher, Miss . . David C. 
Mudge, Jonas . . Pickwick 
Murdstone, Edward David C. 
Murdstone, Jane . David 0. 
Mutanhed, Lord , Pickwick 
Muzzle Pickxoick 



Nadget . . . 
Namby . . . 
Nancy . . . 
Nandy, J. E. 
Necketts, The 
Nell, "Little" 
Nicklebys, The 
Nipper, Susan 
Noddy . . . 
Noggs, Newmao 



. Martin 0. 

. Pickwick 

. . . Twist 

. . Dorrit 

. Bleak If. 

. O. C. Shop 
Mckleby 

. . Dombey 

. Pickwick 

. Mckleby 



206 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Norrises, The . .. Martin C. 
Nubbleses, The . . 0. C. Shop 
Nupkinses, The . . Pickwick 

Omer David C. 

Orlick, Dolge . . Grmt Ex. 

Pancks Dorrit 

Pankey, Miss . . . Dotnbey 
Pardiggles, The . . Bleak H. 
Parkes, Philip . . . Rudge 
Pawkinses, The . . Martin C. 

Payne Pickwick 

Pecksniffs, The . . Martin C. 
Peecher, Emma . . . Mutual 
Peggottys, The . . David C. 

Pegler, Mrs Hard T. 

Pell, Solomon . , Pickwick 

Pepper Great Ex. 

Peps, Sir Parker . . Domhey 
Perch, Mr. and Mrs. . Domhey 

Perker Pickwick 

Petowker, Henrietta Nickleby 

Phoebe Nickleby 

Phunky .... Pickwick 
Pickwick, Samuel . Pickwick 

Pilkins Domhey 

Pinch, Ruth . . . Martin C. 
Pinch, Tom . . . Martin C. 

Pip Martin C. 

Pipchin, Mrs. . . . Domhey 
Pirrip, "Pip" . . Great Ex. 
Plornish, Mr. and Mrs. Dorrit 

Pluck Nicklehy 

Pockets, The . . . Great Ex. 
Podsnaps, The . . . Mutual 
Pogram, Elijah . . Martin C. 
Pott, Mr. and Mrs. Pickwick 
Potter son, Abigail . . Mutual 



Potter son, Job 
Prigg, Betsey 
Pross, Miss . 
Pross, Solomon 
Pumblechook 
Pyke . . . 



. . Mutual 
. Martin C. 
. Two Cities 
. Two Oitiett 
. Great Ex. 
Nicklehy 



Quale . . 
Quilp, Daniel 
Quilp, Mrs. 
Quinion 



Rachael . . 
Raddles, The 
Riah .... 
Riderhood, Pleasant 
Riderhood, Rogue . 

Rigaud 

Rogers, Mrs. . . . 
Roker, Tom . . . 
Rokesmith. John . 

Rosa 

Rouncewells, The . 
Rudges, The . . . 

Rugg 

Rugg, Anastasia . 

Sampson, Geo. . . 
Sanders, Susannah 
Sapsea, Thos. . . 
Sawyer, Bob . . . 
Scott, Tom . . . 
Scudder, Zephaniab 

Sharp 

Sikes, Bill . . . . 
Simmery .... 
Simmons, Henrietta 
Simmons, Wm. . . 
Skettleses, The . . 
Skewton, Mrs. . . 



Bleak H. 
0. C. Shop 
0. C. Shop 

David C. 

. Hard T. 
Pickwick 
. Mutxial 
. Mutual 
. Mutual 

Dorrit 
Pickwick 
Pickwick 
. Mutual 
Bleak H. 
Bleak H. 
. Rudge 

Dorrit 
. Dorrit 

. Mutual 

Pickwick 

Drood 

Pickwick 

0. C. Shop 

Martin C. 

David C. 

. . Twiat 

Pickwick 

0. C. Shop 

Martin C. 

. Dovihey 

. Dombey 



INDEX TO CHARACTERS 



207 



Skiffins, Miss 
Skimpln . . 
Sklmpoles, The 
Slackbridge . 
Slammer . . 
Sleary . . . 
Sleary, Josephine 
Sliderskew, Peg 



Great Ex. 
Pickicick 
Bleak H. 
. Hard T. 
Pickwick 
. Hard T. 
. Hard T. 
Nickleby 



Sloppy 3Ritual 

Slum 0.0. Shop 

Slumkey, Samuel . Pickwick 

Slurk Pickwick 

Slyme, Chevy . . Martin C. 
Smallweeds, The . Bleak U. 
Smangle .... Pickwick 
Smauker, John . . Pickwick 
Smiggers, Jos. . . Pickioick 

Smike Mckleby 

Smorltork, Count . Pickwick 
Smouch .... Pickwick 
Snagsby, Mr. and Mrs. Bleak H. 
Snawley, Mr. and Mrs. Nicklehy 
Snevellicci, Miss . Nicklehy 
Snodgrass, Augustus Pickwick 
Snubbin, Sergeant . Pickwick 
Snuphanugh, Lady Pickwick 
Sowerberry, Mr. and Mrs. TwUt 
Sownds .... Domhey 
Sparkler, Edmund . . Dorrit 
Sparsit, Mrs. . . . Hard T. 
Spenlows, The . . David C. 
Spottletoes, The . Martin C. 
Squeerses, The . . Nicklehy 
Squod, Phil . . . Bleak H. 
Stables, Bob . . . Bleak H. 

Stagg Budge 

Stareleigh, Justice . Pickwick 

Startop Great Ex. 

Steerforth, Mrs. . David C. 



Steerforth, Jas. . . 
St. Evr6monde, . . 
Stiggins . . . . 
Stiltstalking, Lord . 
Strong, Dr. and Mrs 
Stryver, C. J. . . 
Summerson, Esther 
Sweedlepipe, "Poll' 
Swills, " Little " . 
Swiveller, Kichard . 



David C. 

Two Cities 

Pickwick 
Dorrit 

David C. 
Two Cities 

Bleak H. 
' 3rartin C. 

Bleak H. 
0. C. Shop 



Tacker 

Tangle 

Tapley, Mark . . 
Tappertit, Simon . 
Tappleton .... 

Tartar 

"Tattycoram" . . 
Tellson and Co. . . 
Tickit, Mrs. . . . 

Tiffey 

Tigg, Montague 
Tippins, Lady . . 
Tisher, Mrs. . . . 
Todgers, Mrs. . . 
Toodles, The . . . 

Toots, P 

Tope, Mr. and Mrs. 
Towlinson . . . 
Tox, Lucretia . . 

Tozer 

Trabb 

"Trabb'sBoy" . 
Traddles, Thos. . . 
Traddles, Sophy . 
Trents, The . . . 
Trotter, Job . . . 
Trotwood, Betsey . 
Trundle . . . . 



Martin C. 

Bleak H. 

Martin C. 

. Budge 

Pickicick 

Drood 

Dorrit 

Two Cities 

. Dorrit 

David C. 

Martin C. 

. Mutual 

Drood 

Martin C. 

. Domhey 

. Domhey 

Drood 

. Domhey 

. Domhey 

. Domhey 

Great Ex. 

Great Ex. 

David C. 

David C. 

O. C. Shop 

Pickwick 

David C. 

Pickicick 



208 



DICKENS SYNOPSES 



Tackle .... 


Pickiciak 


"Wemmick, John . 


Great IXe. 


Tulkiughorn . . . 


Bleak H. 


Westlock, John . . 


Martin (\ 


Tungay . . . 


David C. 


Whiffens . . . . 


Piekicick 


Tupman, Tracy . 


Pickwick 


Whimple, Mrs. . . 


Great Ex. 


Turveydrops, The 


Bleak H. 


Wiokam, Mrs. . , 


. Domhey 


Twemlow, Melvin . 


. Mutual 


Wickfield . . . . 


David V. 


Twiukleton, Miss . 


. Drood 


Wickfield, Agnes . 


David C. 


Twist, Oliver. . . 


. . Ticist 


Wicks 

Wilfers, The . . . 


Pickwick 






. Mutual 


Vardens, The . 


. Budge 


Willet, John . . . 


. Budge 


Veneerings, The . 


. Mutual 


Willet, Joe . . . 


. Budge 


" Vengeance, The " 


Two Cities 


Winkle 


Picktcick 


Venus 


. Mutual 


Winkle, Nathaniel . 


Pickroick 


Verisopht, Lord 


Nicklehi/ 


Witherfield, Miss . 


Piekicick 


Vholes .... 


Bleak If. 


Wititterlys, The . 


mcklehij 


Vuffin .... 


0. C. Shop 


Wobbler . . . . 


. Dorrit 






Wolf 


Marti7i C. 


Wackleses, The . 


0. a Shojy 


Woodcourt, Allan , 


Bleak If. 


Wade, Miss . . 


. Dorrit 


Woodcourt, Mrs. . 


Bleak ff. 


Wardles, The . 


Pickwick 


Wopsle 


Great Ex. 


Wegg, Silas . . 


. Mutual 


Wrayburn, Eugene 


. Mutual 


Wellers, The . . 


Piekicick 


Wren, Jenny . . . 


. Mutual 


Wemmick . . . 


Great Ex. 


Wugsbys, The . . 


Pickwick 



^ARYOFCONbHtSS 




014 490 936 7 « 



